My issue was for 3 months only severe inner ankle/foot/calf pain of the left leg. This pain kept me in bed for most of that time and on a good day an errand. Then the past month I have had some pain of the right leg and now a very bad pain in the neck to where I can barly lift my head. The left leg is always there though see some improvment. The neck which also sometimes comes with bad dizzy/stuffed head feeling will go away but then come back a few days later. I have seen 2 neuro. Now I have had 2 mri one of foot/ankle and other brain/spine. One ssep,2 emg/nc,multiple set of blood work for disease and deficiency,bones scans,xrays,doppler. Most test showed inflammation but the last ssep/emg showed peripheral neuro. Is my changing symptoms part of this? I hate the neck where I can barley lift and the severe dizzy out of body feeling. The left leg is still constant though some improvment still basically in bed but trying to push but hard when I feel like I will pass out from dizzy and the neck is hard to lift. The shoulders and back feel stiff. I explained the dizzy to my neuro and he said not part of pn. I'm so unhappy with the one neuro I have seen 3 times. So this comes to my doc ? When I call him as to my symptoms of the dizzy/neck and the lack of huge improvment of my leg he says the dizzy is underlying something else but has no referal. I had the ssep/emg and have called for 2 weeks for the report to send to chicago and still not ready as he dictate late.Its been overall almost 4weeks since the test and he knows were waiting. I have seen him 3 times and spends maybe 5 minutes at each time and never explains what is going on.When I ask the ?'s its very vague or no answer. He forgets what meds he put me on. Sent me for pt which made it worse at the time and sends for tests but then just seems to wait. I know not god and can't fix me but just seems so half done.He refered me to a pain clinic that he said did what I was looking for and didn't. I had called him saying I felt like I was dying and at my apt said the worst I ever felt in my life and did nothing I was the one who asked for the blood work,foot/ankle mri,try neurontin again. The ssep was done to the area that is so inflammed and kept me in bed crying with vicadin. Now I then went for 2nd opinion to a neuro who spent so much time like an hour answering all my ?'s. I felt so comfortable and like more of a plan.She order more blood work for diseases and deficency then the basic the other. She had more a plan for me because the other neuro had no plan about getting me out of bed. This 2nd neuro about scheduling time out of bed to move on the feet and ways to get out of airboot and stressed it more then the other neuro. Also the 2nd neuro wanted me off vicadin because I already have high liver so prescribed tramadol which isn't as helpful and said how I need to try neurontin again but lower dose rather then the elavil the first neuro put me on since the neurp at high made me sick but the elavil did nothing. When I called the first neuro I asked him and he said to try the neurontin again. So the 2nd neuro I felt more comfortable with and a plan but after I tried calling her and left 4 messages about new symptoms the dizzy and to talk about bloodwork and no call back where the first one does call back and now he does not just the med assistant like before but does nothing. So confused. I'm going to send my stuff to the chicago place if the first neuro report ever comes back. I also called the uof m but its going to be a 2-4 month wait. They said I could try the er route through uofm though did that at the hospital the 1st neuro is from and they did nothing. So my ? what neuro while waiting for the new places,also I got another referal for a new neuro so do I go to another one to see there view? Sorry so confusing but any guidence is helpful.

Daniella:

I am not sure I have any really good suggestions here, but I do think Neuro#1 has had adequate time to provide your records.

If it were me, and I were not going to see him again, I would start by calling whatever the licensing board of physicians in your state is, and asking them how to best address a situation where a physician will not respond to repeated requests for release of medical records. I don't think I would give his name, just try to find out how to address this situation. The objective here is not to start a catfight, just to find out the best way to get needed information.

I suspect that further communication with this doctor would probably need to be done in writing. I imagine you will need to have made a signed/dated/written request for these records indicating that these are needed by a certain date in order to address additional symptoms which could possibly indicate a worsening of your condition (or to seek another opinion, if you choose) This is just a guess...

The other thing I was going to ask you was about the inflammation. Has anyone suggested that some sort of treatment for inflammation be prescribed here? You have to be careful with this one, because you mention elevated liver enzymes, and some treatments for various inflammatory conditions can cause these enzymes to be raised... What tests came back positive for inflammation, do you know?

There are probably others on this board who may have a better idea how to handle this doctor. I have found that writing is sometimes a more effective tool for getting things like this done.

Cathie

Thanks. I just feel lost on the neuro issue. I liked the 2nd one the best as she explained for like an hour and had a plan.She never called back though after 4 calls. The 1st neuro has ordered some tests but I have had to ask for a lot and seems to not take anything serious or says its not related like the dizzy or new symptom. Also then having to wait 4 weeks and no report. My mom is going in today to get it and trust me it better be there. Nothing like an angry mom. No the 1st one has no confidentialty they just gave all my records to my mom and when my mom called the doc talk about me freely. I may try to call the 2nd neuro again and try to get a why? I had the high liver enzymes before and why the 2nd neuro wanted me off vicadin which the 1st one keeps prescribing. She put me on tramadol but doesn't work as well. I'm trying hard to get off the vicadin but hard in so much pain. I forgot to ask about pinch nerves. Since most of the pain is in the isolated left ankle/foot/calf. Wouldn't though all the tests I had shown that? I fear something more like cancer or tumor still but they said the tests would of shown. The inflamation was shown in the bone scan,first emg,I think mri. The 2nd emg/nc and ssep showed the pn. I had 2 shots of cortisone mixed with something in that area which made things so much worse. I have another referal for a neuro but fear changing and rather stay with what I have. Then I have the Chicago,mayo and if things get bad again to where I feel dead I will go to the er at u of m like the lady suggested. I just feel like they will do like the other er. Thanks again.

Do both of the Neuro's work at same hospital,maybe know each
other that may be a problem.Some don't like to take patient from
other. If you like Neour 2 get all records to he-she and let Dr. know
you have not got retunn calls. Some of the nitwits that work for
them are just that nitwits. First 1 to slow,not good.

I know been reading your posts how much pain your in,your shoulder
could be because of bed rest you may be laying wrong. But being dizzy
could get you through ER at UM. i would think of trying that route.
I used to work there in truma,and they have good Drs. but remember
it's a teaching hospital,lots of questions which good be good. Sounds like
at least they could help with vertigo,i've had that no fun. That could be
inner ear infection. Sometimes meds.hate to say that one. Do you get dizzy
if you turn one way or just get dizzy. In PT they would hold my head
off of mat with there hands,everyone would watch,your eyes roll (honest)
you stare to the left,right and then straight ahead, Boy while you do
this you get dizzy. Than they put a collar to hold your head srraight for
a week ,sounds nuts but works, But first get to ER if you can and see
what is causing it,my mom had a terrible time with this. You sure been
through it honey,i'm glad your mom is helping. Much luck Sue
Oh don't foget to say my leg so forth.

Sounds like my Nurse-Practitioner!! Sometimes I want to shake her and tell her to pay attention! She *never* remembers what she's told me and obviously never documents it either or she'd be able to refer to what she did say. She's screwed up my meds from time to time and other little annoyances but I really do like her. If she could just keep her head out of her nether regions. Sigh. She knows what she's doing and keeps up with the new stuff as well as the fact that if I tell her something, like I've been researching something, she listens and I know she's listening, at least then, because she discusses these things with me. She's always open for suggestions too. That's why I stay with her. But your's sounds like he has *no* redeeming values.

In your case it sounds like you need to find a different doc.

Hmmm... Neurologists who might know each other. Now that is a thought... That could be a problem. I am unclear on something here. Are you actually seeing both neurologists? You mentioned the first one keeps prescribing Vicodan, but the second one wants you off of that.

Did your mom have any luck today when she paid the doc a visit? What happened?

Picturing angry mom venting in office...

Cathie

Thank you. Ok a lot of changes and finally some action. The 2nd neuro I called 1 more time to get a why. Well she was out of the office for 3 weeks and the people who took over her patients thought the other called and the messages got confused. She said it was still not right and apologised many times. Then she spent 20 minutes going over my symptoms and steps she feels. She feels my low white blood is a concern and that my past ed may have left with deficiency not showing. I go back tomorrow for more blood work. Also I'm getting squeezed in to a endocronologist next week and a new gp the following for more deficiency issues. She wants the neurontin to keep increased but if can't tolerate more then will add or change to a new med. My mom did get the report from the now fired first neuro. I'm going to bring it tomorrow to the 2nd. It did show pn and something about slow response I'm not exact. The 2nd neuro though thinks it may not just be the 1 issue since changing symptoms and the severe left pain may be a trapped nerve fiber and also pn in other areas. As for the dizzy it may be from the meds or from underlying deficiency/blood work issue?I'm still sending to the board review at chicago and mayo. The er issue if got bad or something falls through could be a possible. This 2nd doc really explains and I feel more comfortable with her and her being away makes sense. She is working hard now like with the endo because there was a month or two wait list but getting in next week and working more on possible other issues not just 1 specific. She also called back about research she did about other possible issues of past ed and damage.I think she feels bad about how I said I felt so lonely,scared,confused,pain when no return calls.As for the vicadin the 1st one keeps prescribing and when I was looking for another doc and found the current she wanted me off it cause of liver. The 1st neuro if not his area like a nerve,spine so issue I feel doesn't care. Who knows how long he would prescribe. I try not to take it but hard when the pain sets in. I hope between the higher neurontin and tramadol though it will be easier. Oh yeah there two different hospitals and have no clue of each other.Thanks again and feeling more hopeful.

Best thng you feel good with this Dr. and this one is doing something.
I would cross my fingers and toes but ouch,so i'm thinking it in a big
way. When i think of it i think i got a little dizzy on N but it passed.
Good luck and keep sending everything to Mayo and Chicago. Sue