And Anthem Blue Cross for the block!

Well, I've joined the legendary ranks of the HMO-denied. They have determined that the ketamine treatment is experimental, so I can't have it under their plan. I'd have thought the simple math (1 ketamine treatment costs about the same as 1 ER visit) would have helped tipped things in my favour but no.

So where do we go from here? I can pay out of pocket under the PPO portion of my health plan, or I can appeal. I haven't thought much about either yet, although the former isn't tempting, what with the lack of a job sitch and all.

I hadn't honestly considered that they'd turn me down, not with all the wrangling it took to get this far.

::bites lip::

Everything has been pointing towards this. The meds juggling was just treading water, as far as my hopes have been concerned, such as they are.

Well, I see the migraine specialist again this coming Monday. That should be fun.

The cervical nerve block is both a therapeutic and a diagnostic procedure. Turns out that I received no alleviation of pain on extension and flexion (up and down motion) of my neck, but I wasn't supposed to. I did get more range of motion turning side to side, which means we move on to step two--Radiofrequency Neurotomy which is basically blasting the shit out of the offending nerves, a procedure that might provide relief for as much as two years.

I just hope they'll remember how poorly the Versed worked last time.

Bring on the new year--the procedure will be done one side at a time, left on the 8th, and right on the 22nd.

Add one more doctor to the stable

I have a new pain management doctor. One who seems very motivated and says that he has great interest in the problem I have with my shoulders and neck.

He diagnosed me with cervical facet disease and is performing a procedure on me tomorrow to numb the nerves in question. If this provides *any* relief for the neck and shoulder pain it is well overdue. I mention it all the time at the ER and to my other doctors, but apart from one recommendation of physical therapy didn't get much results. And the PT involved touching and manipulating the area which more than once sent me to the ER with exacerbated migraines.

He makes no promises, especially about the migraines, but the neck and shoulder pain needs attention too.