Question
Dr. Durnin,
I am a 39yr.f. I have a medical history significant for cardiac. I am on coumadin and I'm 100% pacer dependant. I have questionable MS.(Can't have MRI).  
I fell down a flight of stairs on this past Dec. 30th. I burst my L-1. I had bone fragments in my spinal chord and required surgery.  Due to the coumadin, I had to wait almost a week for the surgery.  In the mean time I had to lay completely still.  During that time frame, aside from being in excruciating pain, I was having increasingly difficult time breathing.  Despite my O2 sats going down, no one bothered to do a chest xray.  The morning of surgery I truly felt like I would not live through the surgery, I felt so poorly.  Just before going in an astute anesthesiologist looked at my abdomen, and ordered a chest x-ray.  I was in complete pulmonary edema.  The operation was once again postponed another week.
I don't think that information is significant for the questions I need to ask, but you never know.  I don't have the report in front of me, but I will try to explain what they did.
They went in anteriorly, they removed a rib, put a cage in and filled it with bone fragments from the vertabrae and rib.  I woke intubated and with a chest tube that stayed in for several days.
I stayed in the hospital for six weeks, doing rehab. for almost three.
Now here we are in the middle of May.  I know I have come a long way, but I feel as though no one is giving me any idea as to whether my progress is normal, or slow.  I thought I would be walking without aide by now.  I am just still in so much pain.  Usually I use a walker.  I am trying to use my cane more, but it is just such a challenge.  
Questions:
My PT that was coming to my home just discontinued therapy because I have plateaued with my progress.
I don't know what that means.  
Am I never going to get better?
What is the general prognosis for people with this surgery?
I assumed that I would get back to perfectly normal, but now I am starting to wonder if that is at all possible?
Will I ever be without pain?
Sorry, for all of this.  I just have one more issue to share.  They cut from on the left side just past my belly button to half way around my back.  That entire lower abdomen and upper leg is completely numb.  It also protrudes.  my nuerosurgeon said that the muscles wont contract until the nerves re-generate.  It hasnt happened yet, and it is very uncomfortable.
Would seeing a general surgeon be a possibility?

I know you must think my neurosurgeon should be answering all these questions, but he is impossible to get ahold of and when I go in I see the nurse practioner.  I am just not getting answers.  Thank you so much for your time.  I apologize for the amount of questions.
Chris  

Answer
Hi Chris,

Due to your young age you have a much better chance than most.

without your records, it's impossible to give you any concrete answers, I will try though.

I suspect your insurance ran out on the PT and that's why they said you reached MMI or maximum medical improvement. Don't take this literally, it's just a term used by health care to end care when funds dry up.

By law, your neuro has to see you face to face in order to bill an office visit, he is committing fraud otherwise. Insist that he sees you and come prepared with all your questions outlined. Before making the appointment, point this legal issue out to the front desk girl, I promise it will get his attention.

Your sensory nerves grow back one mm/day, so it takes awhile.

Without knowing the extent of motor nerve damage at L1, I can't give you a prognosis, I will say get a second opinion if you can. Get copies of all your diagnostic reports and medical records ahead of time, they will need them.

Seeing a general surgeon may help, but try and get more info from the neuro.

You will never be 100%, you will always have some discomfort, you are one of the few that actually needed surgery, most are done unnecessarily.

Stay tough, you can get through this!

Dr.Timothy Durnin
drs.chiroweb.com