Yea I have had it with doctors myself. My primary care physician does not give 2 cents about my Peripheral Neuropathy and my Radial Neuropathy. I have seen about 6 Neurologists and all they want to do is re-evaluate me even though I have test results from an EMG test. They do not care what caused the condition only that I have the condition. When I ask for some sort of pain medication, they look at me like I'm a drug addict. My primary physician tells me that the neurologist has to prescribe it and the neurologist tells me that my primary care physician should prescribe it. I feel like I'm just getting shuffled around from one doctor to another and not making any headway.

My only suggestion is to see another neurologist. I hope you get better results than I have. Like someone mentioned here...my new insurance does not require a referral but in my experience the specialist does.

Ken

My insurance is very flexible as well. However, it seems like more and more specialists require that you have a referral before they take your case. This is especially true of the teaching hospitals.

I always thought referrals came from your PRIMARY CARE doctor, maybe specialist wont accept a request from a patient, unless he has some kind of symptom that is specific to that specialty. Some dont like thier time and energy wasted from a random person, i guess. I think insurance is different from people to people, some will be only allowed within a certain network of doctors,specialist,hospitals. Some will allow free range of doctors. if its not expensive.

Although referrals are usually made by a PCP, from what I’ve experienced they can be made by any type of physician. What is important is whether or not your referred doctor is willing to accept you as a patient.

I was once referred by my chiropractor to a physical rehab doctor who refused to accept a referral from a chiropractor.

Another time I was referred to a surgeon who required copies of all my imaging and test results in addition to a written referral from my PCP. After reviewing my file, the surgeon gave me two minutes of his time to say that I needed to go elsewhere as my condition was not that significant for his skills.

Got to agree with jenng I got the SFN diagnosis but then neuro said he didn't know what caused it and didn't have any other tests to do so discharged so I have a diagnosis made without a biopsy and I am on my own, trying to find a cause and its proper pants you have my sympathy

Actually, my insurance doesn't require the referral, but at least in my area the specialists and subspecialists won't see you unless referred by another doctor.

Thanks everyone for your replies. It sounds like I'm in good company with regard to my situation.

Best wished to everyone - that you will someday figure out the cause of your problems - and a solution for them.