So bit of a mixed view of today. I saw Ms White, Mr Casey’s registrar (fellow??). She used to work at Southampton, and knows Mr Sepahi – who evidently trained under Mr Casey. She confirmed what we already knew, that Mr Sepahi is a highly regarded neurosurgeon.
After going over my background etc she confessed that the images were not clear enough and they’d been unable to come to a conclusion. She asked if I was struggling when it was done as it looked like I’d been moving a bit. I explained the situation from that day and she said it was completely understandable, but ultimately they couldn’t see what they need to. Apparently the reason they wanted me face down was that, since the previous MRI suggested the cord has adhered to the rear, they wanted to see if it moved away at all under gravity. She did the usual round of neurological checks and was pleased to see no apparent loss of power/coordination in my upper limbs, but it is clearly having a variety of affects on my lower limbs.
Ms White asked if I was being seen at a pain clinic, and I explained that the GP didn’t think there’s anything different they could offer. She disagrees so is going to suggest to the GP that I get referred.
Next step is to get me booked in for a repeat MRI, but it will need to be quite a long one, so she’s going to ask the GP to prescribe me some diazepam and oral morphine for the day to relax/knock me out a bit so I don’t have the same problem in the scanner. That’s likely to take a few weeks to organise, particularly getting a slot that suits me for travel. I asked about having it done at Southampton, but she said that, whilst they know Southampton has excellent imaging facilities and specialists, they want to be able to direct exactly what happens, and not risk having to do me again. Following that, my case will be reviewed at a meeting attended by various specialist neurosurgeons from around the area to see what the next steps might be – whether further surgery is an option etc. If it is decided that surgery is the best course of action, and I want to go ahead, then it will be up to Mr Sepahi whether he is happy to do it at Southampton or whether it should be done (and/or I would prefer it to be done) in London.
A few more weeks of waiting then!