Hmmm .... What to do next?

This has been a challenging week with really no progress. After lots of phone calls, I haven't found a place to have the gait test done. It isn't done at Wash U/Barnes and they aren't really sure where I could have it done. My Chicago dr. advised that I meet with a neurologist (specializes in movement disorders) and physical therapist (at the same time) together. I have this appt. scheduled for October 6th, but I have reservations about it. It is long & complicated but their initial thinking has already been ruled out by two previous neurologists, so I am somewhat thinking it isn't going to be anything I haven't heard already. My confidence in that medical system is really lacking & I haven't been impressed w/what I have seen.

I can have the gait test done in Chicago, but it is in two parts and would involve two days (mid-week) there. I'd need to miss about 2 1/2 days of work to accomplish it all, hotel expense, etc.

I'm meeting with my STL surgeon next Wednesday and am going to explore the possibility of going to Dallas for more ortho opinions. I am not comfortable relying only on the neurologist appt., because this may not be a nerve problem at all. I have had multiple nerve tests that have always come back with no problems. After the fiasco with the appt. this week, I am not looking forward to going down there again and being disappointed, etc. Time is ticking away here, so I'm trying to be somewhat proactive and not put all of our faith in one person/appt. Overall I'm feeling pretty frustrated that I'm supposed to be having a test that is so specialized, we can't find anyone here to do it. The test may/may not reveal what we need to know. I think I need to be exploring the nerve issue possibility and the ortho route at the same time, but this is much easier said than done. Coordinating 3 appointments in Dallas on the same day will be a major task in itself.

Last night I went to a shoe store that specializes in quality shoes for people with foot issues. They had about 40 shoe styles; I was there over an hour and tried on over half of them. I could not wear ANY of them. It was very disheartening to say the least.

Update: After I typed the above note, I got an e-mail stating that there are actually two tests that need to happen:
1. Gait test - walking which is videotaped and evaluated
2. EMG/NCV - nerve test

I am fairly sure that we've already done the second test two times and it came back totally fine (i.e. all nerves working). I guess anything can change, but I was told at one point that usually those tests don't change with time.

Better get to the gym .... need to relieve some stress on the bicycle.
je