DEAR DR. GOTT: I’m a 57-year-old man happily living with my wife of 34 years. Although I watched my diet, exercised, and have no family history of cardiovascular disease, I had a 90 percent cardiac blockage in 2009 and ended up having a heart-catheterization procedure and stent insertion. I saw the signs early and now take 40 milligrams of simvastatin.

Because I had paid my deductible and co-insurance, I saw a back surgeon about my back, which had been giving me problems for years. After X-rays, a CT and MRI, he determined that I have a vertically herniated disc between my fourth and fifth vertebrae. He said I need a spinal fusion, which would involve going through my abdomen. He gave me prescriptions for pain but didn’t prescribe physical therapy or other alternatives.
[Read more...]