For most of my adult life, lower back issues (L3, L4, L5) complicated by later onset spinal…read morestenosis and arthritis has caused me to sample across the therapeutic continuum for relief, visiting multiple physicians with specialties in Internal Medicine, Neurosurgery and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. In addition, I experienced numerous short acting epidurals with an Interventional Radiologist. I also engaged with chiropracticers, acupuncturists, daily stretching routines, participated in physical therapy, deep tissue massage sessions, homeopathic remedies, cold pack therapy, taken muscle relaxants, opioids and NSAIDs with all of this providing at best short term, but no significant long term pain relief.
In recent months things got worse, as I experiencing difficulty walking any significant distance and getting around in general. This led me to ramp up my search for a more permanent fix. In desperation, I made another appointment to see one of our highly thought of local D.C.s. At the onset of our session, and being that he had uploaded my most recent MRI, he told me candidly that chiropractic had no long term benefit in store for me, and that I needed to visit a first class spine surgeon.
Wanting the best possible outcome, I searched out and interviewed numerous spine surgeons affiliated with top institutions such as Stanford, Keck USC and UCLA as well as several independents. All of the surgeons I saw appeared to meet my criteria, to have established a reputation as a first class surgeon, and having the resources to meet my needs. But in the course of my search, one surgeon stood out clearly in contrast to his peers, Thomas Hopkins, PhD MD, of Encino, CA. As a first step measure, he had me on the examination table, manipulating my lower extremities, all the time looking for clues to the source of my back pain. This was the opposite approach from other spine surgeons. They spent the initial moments of their examinations viewing my MRI and the radiologist's report. This moved me to query Dr. Hopkins about his examination protocol, why not look at the MRI and radiologist's report first as all the others had? Quite simply, to paraphrase Dr. Hopkins, he wanted to investigate my case with no preconceived notions as to the origins of my pain.
Post physical examination, Dr. Hopkins scrutinized the MRI and the radiologist's report, confirming his suspicions. He felt he could help me, recommended surgery, and told me exactly what he had in mind for my case. I thought it over for a few days and decided to go with Dr. Hopkins. From that point going forward, his outstanding staff handled all my pre-surgical needs, from finding an internist for my pre-surgical physical to scheduling the surgery suite at Providence St. John's, Santa Monica. Who could have imagined that such a potentially complex surgery could be so painlessly arranged? What a relief.
Prior to the surgery, the doctor came to my hospital room for a visit, as well as post surgery, and once again just before my discharge with a follow up meeting scheduled in a few weeks. I had the surgery the morning of September 15th, 2016: Unbelievable to me, by the next day, I was taking short walks around the ward floor and was discharged in the afternoon. The nagging pain has subsided, and the end is in sight. I feel like a human being once again and very confident that I will make the best possible recovery under Dr. Hopkins care.
