Andy Michaelson is a teenager who came into the hospital with severe chronic back pain.
Quick Answers
What was the initial diagnosis of Andy Michaelson's back pain?
Who was the first doctor to examine Andy Michaelson at Seattle Grace Hospital?
Why did Andy Michaelson's mother distrust their regular doctor?
What symptoms led Andy Michaelson's mother to believe his condition was more than growing pains?
History[]
Misdiagnosis[]
Andy had been having back pain for a few weeks. His mother had taken him to his regular doctor, whom she said was a bad doctor who texted while she was talking to him, who said it was just growing pains. But she believed it was more, because Andy was falling down on the soccer field. So she took him to Seattle Grace Hospital, where Arizona Robbins examined him. After talking through it with Miranda Bailey, Arizona said that he had a mild case of scoliosis and his growth was likely aggravating his spine. She said they'd wait to see if it resolved and if it didn't, he'd come back in for more tests. In the meantime, she gave him a prescription for muscle relaxants.
He later came back to the hospital with serious pain in his inguinal area, legs, and back. He'd been vomiting all night. Arizona wanted to run a 3D MRI, but his mother's insurance wouldn't pay for it, so Webber wouldn't let her run it, so she was forced to discharge him and refer him back to his primary care physician. ("Good Mourning")
Andy had an infection, which they treated, and then continued to look for other choices. When Webber continued to refuse the 3D MRI, Arizona sent Andy over to Callie at Mercy West Medical Center to get the scan. She did the scan, but it didn't show anything. Arizona and Callie continued to talk about possible causes for his pain. Arizona ultimately figured out that he had a tethered spinal cord. She went to Derek in order to get the scan she needed to confirm her theory. They told Andy and his mother what was wrong and then took him into surgery to clip the cord, freeing him of pain. ("Goodbye")
Relationships[]
Familial[]
His mother is very protective of him. When he was hospitalized, she stayed by his side and when she believed the doctors treating him were distracted, she threatened to take him to another hospital. ("Good Mourning")
He told the doctors that before the back pain, his mom was like a normal mom. ("Goodbye")
Notes and Trivia[]
- He was 15 at the time of his hospitalization.
Gallery[]
Episodic[]
Appearances[]
| Grey's Anatomy, Season 6 | |||||
| #01 | "Good Mourning" | #09 | "New History" | #17 | "Push" |
| #02 | "Goodbye" | #10 | "Holidaze" | #18 | "Suicide is Painless" |
| #03 | "I Always Feel Like Somebody's Watchin' Me" | #11 | "Blink" | #19 | "Sympathy for the Parents" |
| #04 | "Tainted Obligation" | #12 | "I Like You So Much Better When You're Naked" | #20 | "Hook, Line and Sinner" |
| #05 | "Invasion" | #13 | "State of Love and Trust" | #21 | "How Insensitive" |
| #06 | "I Saw What I Saw" | #14 | "Valentine's Day Massacre" | #22 | "Shiny Happy People" |
| #07 | "Give Peace a Chance" | #15 | "The Time Warp" | #23 | "Sanctuary" |
| #08 | "Invest in Love" | #16 | "Perfect Little Accident" | #24 | "Death and All His Friends" |