JHU was the worst experience I have had since being diagnosed with CRPS. I was seen by Dr. James Campbell after having been diagnosed with CRPS by an ER doctor and an orthopedic surgeon. My purpose in visiting the Blaustein Pain Treatment Center at Hopkins was to develop an aggressive treatment plan with the hope that I would go into remission.

Rather than a treatment plan Dr. Campbell indicated that I was suffering from clinical depression and that when I received treatment for that depression my pain would "resolve nicely." He also stated that I did not have CRPS. Conveniently, he referred me to his pal, a psychiatrist at Hopkins who didn't take most major insurances. It would have cost me about $900.00 just to walk in the door.

Despite my protests that I did not have clinical depression as verified by my husband who is one of the top psychologists in the state, I was still denied a treatment plan for CRPS and only given a referral for clinical depression.

In addition, Dr. Campbell grabbed my affected arm, despite my protest causing me such intense pain that I fell into a fixture and suffered severe bruising as a result.

When I requested to be seen in follow up by another physician I received a nice little letter stating that if I really did not feel comfortable with Dr. James Campbell I could be referred to Kernand Hospsital.

The result was that I was spurred into action to find good treatment at a small private pain center. I did, in fact return for my three month follow up with Dr. Campbell, after filing a formal complaint against him. I presented with a neurological evaluation confirming the diagnosis of CRPS, a psychiatric evaluation, from a facility which only cost a $15.00 co pay (which showed no clinical depression), an evaluation by a board certified pain management doctor (diagnosis of CRPS as well as a follow up report from another ER visit (diagnosis CRPS) and my orthopedic follow up report (diagnosis CRPS). Additionally I had a referral from the pain management doctor to and was accepted as a patient by Dr. Robert Schwartzman to be treated for CRPS.

While my husband took notes, I dragged Dr. Campbell page by page through his written report of my prior visit. I reminded him that I had requested that rather than address me by my first name, he use my last name and preface it with my title, Dr. To say that he appeared to feel humiliated in front of the fellows observing was an understatement. Although he apologized and stated that he had made a mistake it was obvious to me that he had been behaving this way toward women for years. (I initially saw Dr. Campbell because he had put a dear friend, a male into remission with an aggressive treatment plan. This male presented with almost exactly the same symptoms as I presented with.)

After that visit I once again requested a new physician but received a letter from the legal department dismissing me as a patient from John's Hopkins Hospital with a referral to Cleveland Clinic.

After subsequent complaints filed with local regulating agencies I noticed that Dr. James Campbell was no longer listed on the John's Hopkins Blaustein Pain treatment Center Website.

Sounds like I was done a real favor because a colleague of my husband's with CRPS had a very bad experience with a doctor named Raja, who I probably would have seen. She started with upper limb CRPS and ended up in a wheelchair from being under his care.

Since it took several months to get into Hopkins I often wonder if I would have had a chance for remission if I received a treatment plan in a timely manner.

My husband often reminds me that Dr. James Campbell felt much more pain than I did on many levels. I am just glad he is no longer treating women.

My question is, how did he get away with this for so long. I believe the answer is obvious.

Although Hopkins has many fine and world renowned departments, their pain treatment center is no heavy weight.