How do you choose your Doctors? Do you have a choice?
 

I would like to ask all of you how you choose your doctors and do you have choices where you live?

In my area, there are few Pain Management Docs and a new patient may have to wait 3-5 months to get an appointment !

I have a laminectomy type SCS, and simply MUST remain under PM care.

I recieved a call from a frantic man yesterday (I am on the RSDSA website for support ) who could not reach anyone close to him to talk to. He has been suffering for over 5 years and was told yesterday that he must have RSD. His story was so much the same as mine- except that it only took me 1 year to get a dx. His is however a workers comp case and he has been getting shots in his affected limbs as I did . This was so excruciating that I can not even think about it-Not to mention the use of ice!!!
The next treatment that they want to do is some kind of block in his affected foot. I begged him to please not have anymore needles stuck into his affected limbs.

This leads up to my main question. He stated that he was afraid to refuse treatment because of the workers comp suit.

So- How do we choose doctors and do you have a real choice where you live?

Before I started this thread, I went to RSDSA.org. to see if there was any help there. Unfortunately , there was only a statement that they cannot endorse any Docs,etc.

What can we do? Any feedback will be appreciated-Fondly-Carol

OOOkay. I fell into this issue on another forum where I gave advice but the limitations through comp differ between states.. I'm a new yorker.. I can see any doctor I want as long as the Doctor accepts comp.. and I must see a dr every 3 weeks (the dr in charge of the dx )mine is my neurologist. plus I must go to IME,s(insurance medical exams) every time the insurance requests one. the mistake I made was offering this advice (though i stated here in NY) but this comp patient lives in NJ.(there they are GIVEN OR ASSIGNED DR,S) but he did follow this advice.. no matter what state you are in (I believe) get an attorney to handle your comp claim.. that way if you are lost as to your options you can always check with the atty, and if so needed they will set up a court hearing to try and get needed treatment.. If you get me his state I will try to get more info for you..

Great response painman. He is in California and right now he is just plain scared and overwhelmed at the dx of RSD. I talked with him again today and encouraged him to find as best as possible a Doc that currently treats RSD. He also is tied to a certain Hospital etc. due to type of insurance. Thanks again for your concern and response.Anyone else out there with imput???

ok this is sucky but here is how its layer out in cali. the employer chooses the initial dr. and if the employer or their insurance carrier has a network of providers. the employee must stay within this network of providers. (if the employer or insurance carrier fails to get a network of providers then after 30 days of date of injury the employee can choose his dr,s.. attorney fees are at discretion of insurance carrier but the attorney may not bill patient(employee). there are other finer rules but I still suggest that this person get an atty .and one that can navigate these hurdles.. as there are many...