I'm sitting here with 11 x-rays, and I'm thinking they must show something that accounts for the pain (neck, R-shoulder/arm). My VA primary care doc's diagnosis is a small amount of arthritis, but he's not even qualified to read an x-ray. I tried to get my VA neurologist (I have Parkinson's) to take a look at the x-rays, but he refused. He plainly stated that he's not qualified. I don't understand. How is it that a "neurologist" isn't qualified to read an x-ray? Am I supposed to assume that at some point during his college years he made a conscious decision to NOT school himself in this particular area of expertise? Am I supposed to assume that at some point he decided that this particular skill wouldn't come in handy at some point? Exactly how does one decide to precisely delegate this responsibility to someone else? More importantly, "why" would any doctor decide to let someone else handle this responsibility? It makes no sense to me. Wouldn't it be a "liability" for a doctor to rely on a radiologist in this manner? Hmmm...Maybe that's IT. Maybe the doc just wants a chance to let someone else take responsibility and blame. If we can spread this disease thin enough, maybe we will ALL come out ahead in the end. When the wrong diagnosis finally shows itself, the "lessers of expertise" can be blamed first, and the Ph.D's involved will have had their fair warning? The patient can at least rest easy in between his accusations.
There's a lot more going on in my life right now, if you haven't already guessed. It has to do with my exposure to trichloroethylene (and other VOCs) at Camp Lejeune NC, and at the Naval Air Warfare Center, Hughes Aircraft, Raytheon Technical Services, all at Indpls. It also has to do with the VA's way of spreading "thin blame" for what they call a "neuropsychiatric exam" as a requirement for DBS surgery...which reminds me--exactly "why" is that power-supply so huge? I mean, I know for a fact that power-supplies do NOT need to be that big...OK, I guess you think I'm rambling on by now...I guess I am...too tired to elaborate...I need some lawyers.