Two Blogs in 10 days? That's a current day record for me you all. I still have no idea what my deficits are, just that they seem to be progressing toward a terrible end of my walking without falling. I saw an older doctor at the hospital last week as a referral from my arthritis doctor.

He deals with the back and spinal cord, I can't remember his title but some kind of arthritis. Anyway he asked me to call or go by the other hospitals I been treated at in the last 6 months to see if anyone had an MRI of my back and spine area. If I can't find one he would have to request Medicare to approve one for his work in my case.

He examined me and discussed things with me for over an hour. First time I ever spent that much time on one doctor visit that I can remember in a long time. He stated the only way he can begin to see what is happening with my back is to have an MRI done that tells him everything he needs to know and find out where I'm going with my condition as it's happening now. That made sense to me cause something is wrong and I feel like it is serious enough to be concerned about me walking very much longer.

Yes, I have degenerative arthritis, had a Lipoma removed from my back in Vietnam right after we got ambushed and members in my party killed. I was operated on right in the field hospital ( a tent hospital) then sent back to base camp and placed on R&R to Australia for two weeks. This doctor can't understand why this was done so fast for that type of surgery. He feels something was a cover up. Anyway I have two discs crushed and between them is a spur off my spine. It has always caused me pain as my chances of operating and being better were only a 50-50 chance.

The worse being paralyzed for life if it failed so I declined the operation and still do today. I've had a stroke with paralysis five years ago and just now I find it harder and harder for me to walk. He seem to be thinking my spinal cord has taken about all it can and I'm not getting any younger. That's a start and it could be my back has taken all it can which will affect my ability to walk. After my stroke and four months in rehab I came home unable to walk but learned and got better at walking soon afterwards with more therapy.

I keep telling my wife something is wrong, she keep saying you been to every hospital they all can't find nothing wrong. I like this doctors approach cause no other doctor ever wanted an MRI of my back before this. Hopefully he can make a determination of my problem soon. I want to keep walking. I shall see soon I hope!

I think of that old song by Fats Domino, "I'm walking to New Orleans."