[AnnBon]

Hi All,

Has anybody heard of a doctor my the name of A. Lee Dellon, Director of the Institute of Peripheral Nerve Surgery in Balitmore,MD?

I have been recommended to see him by one of my many doctors and would love to here if anyone has heard or seen him.

Thanks for all the help.

Ann

[nide44]

Dr Dellon has been quite well known for quite a while in the PN circles.
His Dellon institute, and procedures are quite controversial.
He used to be affiliated with Hopkins, but now is independent.
He teaches his 'technique' all over the country and franchises his
Dellon Institute in many states . He has many doctors paying him royalties/fees-
and I think, pays others for referrals, as well.
Some patients have been helped, but many have not. He seems to be most successful with diabetics. His criteria to be 'accepted' as a patient is questionable.
Some say that everyone qualifies or at least that few have been turned away.
It costs to even go thru the evaluation procedure. I've heard that ins cos. won't accept his fees, so he doesn't accept insurance plans. Cash on the line.
If you do a search, here- there are 9 pages of threads that refer to him,
in one way or another. I'd read those to get some idea.

[MelodyL]

Maybe it's just me, or maybe I'm just stupid....but aren't physicians supposed to HELP people. And not just be in it for the money.

I know they have to make a living. I'm aware of that.

But to me, if a person goes to medical school, becomes a physician, then goes into a field where he KNOWS THAT HE IS SO NEEDED, and creates a speciality in itself....then charges up front, doesn't accept insurance ..blah blah blah, well, I might be wrong,and shoot me if I am. but it just seems wrong.

Extremely wrong.

I know that they have to recoup the cost of their medical training. But what happens after that.

I mean, I gather these physicians are not joining DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS, ARE THEY??

[DanP]

Mel - that MD after their name not only means Medical Doctor but also MORE DOLLARS. You've never heard of a poor medical doctor, have you?

[shiney sue]

Run if you can,iif you can't ,just plain ask for help,but not from him..
To many bad and sad stories about this uhh dr. Better have big
pockets..you asked Sue

[AnnBon]

To anyone who has any info on Dr. Dellon:

I just have a few more questions. I do know you have to have money up front for Dr. Dellon but his office told me if I choose to have one of the other surgeons,who are all trained my Dr. Dellon,to do the surgery they would just put it through the insurance and I would only have to pay any co-pay and percentage the insurance company would not pay. I have a PPO Plan and really have been seeing some of the top doctors between NYC and PA and have not had to lay out to much.

I am a little hesitant to run down there now because of all the negative response. Is it just the dollars or is he just not a good surgeon. I am being referred by one of the top RSD doctors in the states, so I am a little confused.

I truly respect the opinions of the people on the web site. The best way to get the truth is to ask the people who have suffered with it.

FYI: My accountant states that all out of pocket medical expenses are a great tax deduction, even spending for travel, food etc. I am sure everyone knows this because it makes a huge difference in your return.

Thanks so much,

Ann

[glenntaj]

--double post.

[glenntaj]

--is not that his technique for lower extremity nerve release is not helpful to some; there are people with compressive nerve situations that have been helped by such surgery, and it would possibly help people with other neuropathic foot pain who are subject to the "double crush" phenomenon (neuropathic symptoms from some other cause exacerbated by constriction--this happens often to diabetics), but that the claims that are made about how many peole the technique will help, and the marketing apparatus around it, seem to be overreaching.

To those of us who know the many manifestations and causes of neural symptoms, it seems the claims are too broad, and don't admit that there are some people who cannot be helped by surgery in that area--it cannot help those with neural symptoms from lumbar problems, for example, or who have neuropathies that do not have compressive or ischemic etiologies (such as from celiac, vitamin deficiency, toxins . . .) but the way those ads and websites are set up, and the way people have reported being interviewed by the staff at these centers, it sounds as if this the place to go for anyone with lower extremity neuropathic symptoms. When that happens, suspcions rise that this is a way to make money from people who are less-informed, who are in severe discomfort, and who haven't had anywhere near as extensive a work-up for cause as they should have (unfortunately, the fact that so many docs have no clue when it comes to neuropathy plays right into this).

[nide44]

Ann,
Have you bothered to do the search I suggested?
Also, have you 'googled' Dr Dellon?
Snake Oil is still successfully sold, in theses days and times.

[AnnBon]

Yes,I have gone on his website and I do agree the marketing set me off immediately as very odd.

Believe me I will not to anything quickly and will ask my current surgeon, who is considered one of the best if not the best hand surgeon in the states. My problem is upper extremity.

The one thing that bothers me is that the doctor who is sending me or wants me to just get on opinion is a very well respected doctor. When he first approached me about Dr. Dellon he said, "ONLY GET AN OPINION". So if anything I will just go for the consultation.

Again, I am so glad I ask and truly appreciate the response.

Ann