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Suggest Treatment For Swelling On Right Side Of Back

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Posted on Mon, 2 Mar 2015
Question: To Dr. T Chandrakant,
Hi Dr. I had some trouble with the site. I have photos to send you of the denervation right buldge. I took them from all angles so you can see the rolls of fat even where it's pulling to the right on my back and you will be able to see how much the swelling has increased and I look pregnant.
XXXXXXX XXXXX YYYY@YYYY
doctor
Answered by Dr. T Chandrakant (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Please send photos in other angles too.

Detailed Answer:
Hi Madam XXXXXXX
All the four photos are the same.
Can see only the back-view- showing rolls of fat on the right side..

I shall be happy to comment only after looking at the other photos.
Please post the photos in other angles too.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. T Chandrakant (3 days later)
I don't know what happened, but I will have the person who took them from all 4 angles retake them and send them to you by the weekend. It has snowed here twice this past week and we are expecting another big snow storm this week!
I saw Dr. Teimourian, the first plastic surgeon to diagnoise the denervation.
He could not believe how big the buldge has gotten from the original photos I sent to you. He asked me if I gained weight, and I have not!

His male nurse practioner took new pictures today and I forgot to ask him for a copy...so like I said I will get new photos. I told him what you said about a corset type binder. He said it may be a good idea to keep things from buldging further, but the orthopedic surgeon said it will make my back weaker since I have more herniated discs. Dr. Teimourian is at least 80 and busy all of the time. I have probably know him since he was in his 40's. He's sharp and steady handed. He has a surgical suite in the office house he owns next to Suburban Hospital in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The whole downstairs is a gym! He has a personal trainer who comes in three days a week to work out with him. His sister is also probably in her 80's and works at the front desk. The trainer also works with her 3 days a week! They both are in amazing shape!
I asked him about the Shiatsu and he laughed and said do it...but he said it will never get rid of the buldge! I asked him about the trainer and he said of course you can do it, but it will not resolve my problem.

He said the problem definately came from the back surgery...but I told you my surgeries were in 2004 and 2008! The bulging did not start until at least 2011 or 12.....after all of the epidural blocks. The last procedure was the cool needle ablasion...I believe it started after that.

Dr. Teimourian told me to cancel the surgery at Johns XXXXXXX He dictated into his recorder that he advised the patient that the surgery will not get rid of the buldge, with my history of a seizure after the 2004 surgery and 3 days later the PE in my lung, this surgery could be fatal! I still may see this doctor at northwestern hospital in XXXXXXX ..I told him I may go to XXXXXXX ...he said regardless, I have an issue that no ethical doctor will operate on me...I have a problem that cannot be fixed. I told him about the tests you suggested and he agrees that someone should order these tests..he still believes that there is another hernia that has not been seen by the tests that were done.

It's so depressing...I still feel young...yet I can never put on a bathing suit or dress and I am looking more and more deformed! I feel like I will spend the rest of my life alone because no man wants a woman in my shape and there seems to be nothing I can do. I do not want to risk my life.

As far as the two Shiatsu practioners I found...my friend is a massage therapist and checked them out. She said they do not have the proper certifications...she said she knows an XXXXXXX woman who has been doing it for 14 -20 years....what do you think? She is also 15 minutes from my home.....be we'll,I think I am going to call XXXXX XXXXXXX and ask for those tests you suggested...regardless I am going to cancel the surgery...they also gave me an appointment with a hematologist at XXXXXXX prior to surgery...I am not sure if I should do that at this time, since I do not plan the surgery yet?
thanks, XXXXXXX
doctor
Answered by Dr. T Chandrakant (4 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Confirmation whether Protrusion or a real hernia.

Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Thanks for your feedback and your interaction with Doctors / Trainers and so on.

You can certainly try the XXXXXXX woman you talked about as she is nearby. How the naturo-therapy like acupressure and acupuncture going to help is not our issue, we want results.

As Dr. Teimourian's opinion is regarded, yet we want something to hold the increasing bulge in place irrespective of the cause. Corset applied properly and loose enough should not cause any problem with the discs or the spine. So start applying this as early as possible before there is worst sagging.

You have not gained weight is a good sign.
The defect may be due to the scarification as a late effect, nerve entrapment or the procedures that were done later. There is a gap between Surgery and commencement of the bulge.

Again the point is to have some support to the protrusion or hernia.

Now there is going to be interaction between the thoughts have have expressed.
You can have both the positives.
So do not get depressed as depression has a direct bearing upon the results related to any medical or surgical problem. Please cheer up, everything is going to be good.

Yes please get in touch with the Johns XXXXXXX Get the tests
done and have interaction withe Doctors.

Waiting for the old and the newest pictures for me to discuss further .
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. T Chandrakant (14 hours later)
Thank you soo much. I will call XXXXX XXXXXXX tomorrow. I have never been able to reach the surgeon. He will not return calls. He was very abrupt at the visit. I think they schedule patients 2 patients every 15 minutes! I will also try the binding immediately. You are so kind. Like I said, I may come to XXXXXXX ...but my finances are not available. I have to check to see if Medicare, my insurance will pay for surgery abroad. I know they will not pay for any other travel costs. I know I would have to stay in XXXXXXX for a time if I do have surgery. When I was in dental hygiene school I had many professors from XXXXXXX That was 40 years ago. I kept in touch for a time but over the years I lost contact. My veterinarian was also from XXXXXXX When he retired he moved back. If I come to XXXXXXX i will check with the doctor who bought his practice to see if he is still alive. He was wonderful.
Thanks again for your speedy reply!
Sincerely,
XXXXXXX
doctor
Answered by Dr. T Chandrakant (8 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Great to know

Detailed Answer:
Thanks Madam XXXXXXX for appreciation and feedback.

It is possible that the Surgeon at Johns XXXXXXX may be sharp and agile as per your description and may also be straight forwards, it would be advisable to have one examination done by him if possible.

Surely check with your Insurance company as you discussed.
Please start the binding / strapping and let me know the results.
It should be loose enough not to disturb the respiration and the spine as someone told you and just tight enough to support the bulge so that even on coughing and straining it is hold in position. This will at least avoid the further progress.

Very nice to interact with you.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Ashwin Bhandari
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. T Chandrakant (7 days later)
Hi, I have provided some attachments. Please review them.
doctor
Answered by Dr. T Chandrakant (4 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
High reolution ultrasonography in real time

Detailed Answer:
Hi Madam XXXXXXX
Thanks for the attachments, which show a front view in all of them.

Yes there is a definite bulge as you have mentioned.
This looks diffuse and large enough and rare to appear making it difficult for many surgeons to think many times before touching the scalpel.
As per the discussions we had, there is no single small opening in the abdominal wall to say that this is a hernia (hernia has a sac and a neck through the wall within which it is contained).
This is a hernia, it can be operated
If a diffuse bulge, difficult to get the confinement and will need the largest of the mesh available.

How much does the bulge increase on coughing or straining ?
Has any of the CT scan or the MRI or the high resolution ultrasonography compared the thickness and condition of the muscles on either side of the abdomen to compare and then decide the reason and effects ?
Whether the muscles on the affected side thinned out / fibrosed / lax and its movement and action on coughing / straining / bending ?- This is nicely possible on high resolution ultrasonography in real time. Can you get this done please, (if not yet done). This will confirm whether there is real herniation or denervation...

Thanks a lot for your faith and please give me the feedback, so that I can comment on whether surgery if going to help or not ...
It definitely shows the bulge as you explained.

Can you please get the real time high resolution ultrasonography and I hope you must have gone through the discussion above.

I can understand what you mean by - after having such a bulge and yes, one should try to get the solution.

Could you see and get examined by the Surgeon at XXXXXXX XXXXXXX ?
Have a great day.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. T Chandrakant (23 hours later)
Hi Dr. Chandrakant!

I have a few Doctors appointments this week...one with the rheumatologist at Georgetown hospital who I have seen ever since he started his practice. I will ask him for the RX for the high resolution sonogram and the other tests you suggested. I am pretty certain he will agree with you. If not, I will find one of my doctors who will. As I told you I am going to cancel the surgery at Johns XXXXXXX scheduled in March. The surgeon does not want yo speak to me nor does he want to be questioned. He obviously feels no other tests are necessary. I have been wearing a binder even during sleep...it's light weight elastic...it seems to make my back and stomach feel better...its not tight. Of course, i have seen no difference in the size of my abdomen. It's so weird this problem...I still feel the cool needle ablasion caused the problem...like you said, the last surgery was 2008 , the cool needle ablasion was about 2012...the buldge started after that procedure...but the pain management doctor, who I still see said it did not come from anything he did because the injection was at a different level in my spine. This doctor is a D.O. At XXXXXXX general hospital in gaithersburg, Maryland. Of course no doctor wants to take responsibility for this...they are so afraid of being sued. I cannot understand how he can say what level caused what, since the buldge is all over the place. Thanks again for your kindness. I will get back with you as soon as I can get the tests done which you suggest.

Sincerely,
XXXXXXX
doctor
Answered by Dr. T Chandrakant (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Awaiting for the reports ...

Detailed Answer:
Hi Madam XXXXXXX
Thanks for the feedback. I can understand the Doctor not taking the responsibility. The bulge, if of denervation possibility means that the 'motor'' nerves are at fault and can occur due to reactivation of some nerve infection with known or unknown viruses for some unknown causes, unfortunately coinciding with some procedures which you have undergone over the time..

Great, if you get the high resolution ultrasonographic comparison of both sides of the abdominal wall, with and without straining/ coughing and so on. A good Radiologist can certainly be of great help if you talk to Him.

OK with cancellation of the Surgery at XXXXXXX XXXXXXX I was just wondering if that particular Surgeon has examined you physically and uttered at least a single word for the correct ''diagnosis - hernia or not'' ...

Yes, the strapping will certainly help you for the support and avoidance of further progress. Please continue. Have you seen the soldiers at the Guard of Honor ceremony wearing a typical wrap-around strap perfectly supporting only the whole abdomen or something like this ... http://www.turner-sports.co.uk/turnermax-abdominal-beltbinder-supports-for-abdomen--lumbar-3914-p.asp.

I will be eagerly waiting for the reports.

Regards. Have a great day.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. T Chandrakant (7 days later)
Dear Dr. Chandrakant!

I still haven't seen the pain management doctor who did the cool needle ablasion when the buldge started. I am going to LA and Arizona for a few weeks and will be back March 4. I will see if I cannot get the high resolution sonogram in Arizona or I will check when I get back. I have a pre-op appointment prior to the surgery at XXXXXXX ..I wonder if I should talk to the surgeon at that appointment....but I think it's only right to cancel the surgery before. I saw my rhematologist this week. He is worried about the mesh because I have fibromyalgia...although he said XXXXXXX is a #1 hospital in the U.S. he told me to see the doctor at northwestern university hospital in XXXXXXX for another opinion. He thinks your ideas are correct...but he said he's never heard of an MRI or CAT scan standing...he said georgetown does not have it. I will be I touch with you. I still want to see XXXXXXX before I croak!
My best, XXXXXXX
doctor
Answered by Dr. T Chandrakant (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
MRI and CT not possible in standing position.

Detailed Answer:
Hi Madam XXXXXXX
Thanks for your feedback.
Pain management Doctor may not be of any help.
Please try to get the High resolution Ultrasonography, specifically asking the Radiologist to see for the things we discussed.
I think you should talk to the Surgeon, at least get examined and have consultation, discuss the prose and cons; surgery can be planned any other time. Yes, you can re-schedule / postpone the surgery.

Good that you saw the Rheumatologist. Mesh should not cause any problem in spite of fibromyalgia. Yes, XXXXXXX is famous all over the world. Please take another opinion in XXXXXXX Please see that it does not increase confusion. Please ask for a XXXXXXX opinion and let me know. Thank you and the Rheumatologist for your belief in me.
I did say that it is not possible to have MRI and CT in the standing position, nor does it give real time information as the patient is lying in a still position. Hence the actual picture on straining is possible only with ultrasonography. Yes, CT and MRI are not possible in standing position.
Yes, I too am waiting for your feedback and most welcome to XXXXXXX if it is possible for you.

Take care, take clear-cut opinions to reduce the confusion and let us march towards decision making.
Continue the strapping as we discuss.

Awaiting for your feedback.
Note: For further inquiries on surgery procedure and its risks or complications book an appointment now

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju
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Answered by
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Dr. T Chandrakant

General Surgeon

Practicing since :1984

Answered : 19777 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Swelling On Right Side Of Back

Brief Answer: Please send photos in other angles too. Detailed Answer: Hi Madam XXXXXXX All the four photos are the same. Can see only the back-view- showing rolls of fat on the right side.. I shall be happy to comment only after looking at the other photos. Please post the photos in other angles too.