Jim King

I don't like to reveal too much about where I am from online but we are not too far apart in area. And yes, my PM set up the discussion and call with the anesthesiologist, lol. And then I went and had a meeting for 40 mins. It is baffling to now have the same scenario seem to play out in back tracking and people not willing or wanting I should say, to do as much as possible to help a RSD patient. Perhaps I am not in the know or over generalizing what they do plan on doing, because I heard what they would not. I need to refocus and hear back from the pm doc and hope for the best. Written instructions and protocols don't seem to matter - I have that and it won't even hold up.

If you use the word "protocols or standards" every single one of them will coil back in a ball and tell me, repeatedly "there are no standard protocols for this, for you, for RSD" which I know is untrue. I have studied this for 20 plus years. The protocols are similar in every case. So I don't know what the argument or hold up would be. I need to keep trying to get those answers while staying positive. They hate when you call and ask questions. Let alone show them papers, procedures, because it is like you are telling them how to do their job. It is baffling, but thank you for your kind replies and hashing this out online with me. I do feel like a lone wolf howling into the night-and find it mind-boggling how hard it is to get these measures along the way.

I have a letter FROM a pain management/anesthesiologists tied into the very same hospital I am going... with recommendations on what to do if "patient need surgery" and still many places have ignored and discounted any of that going back to "there are no set this and that...". And when you say, ok...well, typically RSD patients who undergo surgery have x,y,z they don't care. Or they don't have the ability or go ahead from other people to do those things. Did I say MIND BOGGLING. LOL

Thank you so much, you are really thoughtful for advice and help, i take it all in and see what I can do! I have tried so many methods over the years...it is like hitting a brick wall.

And, no, health insurance is not in middle of this, I just got surgery date and insurance company is not going to be called until 3 weeks before surgery. (said surgical coordinator) So they are not the holdup...believe it or not. Good questions though, smart man! :-)