The Whole Tooth - Phone Tag with a Neurosurgeon

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< Previously: Second Batch of MRI and CAT Scans

> Next: The Neurologist's Diagnosis in Writing

Playing Phone Tag

Thursday, November 26, 1998

Anxious to hear about the results of the MRI and CAT scans from the previous Friday, I called Dr. Lorenz early on Thursday.

Unfortunately, he was unavailable. I was told to call back in the afternoon, but he wasn't available then, either (emergency surgery).

Friday, November 27, 1998

No news yet. Dr. Lorenz is proving to be quite elusive, with some urgent operations popping up, me missing him by minutes twice today.

We are now playing phone tag; I gave his assistant my private number and he might call tomorrow.

Monday, November 30, 1998

After playing phone tag with him for three days, I finally got ahold of Dr. Lorenz. He was quite busy, apparently, and gave me the diagnosis rather hurriedly.

There was no tumor to be found, nor anything else that might exert pressure on the nerve.

He diagnosed the pain to be "learned pain", not phantom pain as previously mentioned by Dr. Küttner. This apparently means that the original source for the pain is long gone, it's just that the maxilliar nerve has learned to keep hurting.

I don't know how that fits with the pressure-sensitivity of the upper jaw, but then again, I am not a doctor.

I am to take some pain killers and get a small device which give me an electrical buzz for about an hour a day. This way, the nerve is supposed to get used to the buzz and forget about the learned pain.

Should this not work out, I am again to take carbamazepin tablets like the Carbium which I took last year, without success. If that doesn't work, I am to try acupuncture.

From what I gather, my resident doctor (Dr. Zwickert) will have the whole diagnosis on his desk no sooner than within two weeks.

Until then, I suppose, I will just have to endure -- needless to say, I am fuming.

Shortly before Christmas 1998, I got all this in writing... but for one significant omission.

NEXT: SPELLED OUT.
"The written diagnosis from the Neurologist is here."

Next: Spelled Out >

Previously: Scanned Again <

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"The Continuing Health Crisis" is an 100% true account of MOATMAI's health problems. It is intended to keep all friends and enemies informed about his current status. The Whole FAQ.

First Visit? You might want to check out the summary before continuing.

Current Status: The root canal, it is done. The tooth is dead. And the pain? Well...

The whole mess began in June, 1997. The Whole Tooth starts here.

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