Hi everyone!

I just went to a new PM recommended by my Nuero (within the same practice). We had a long and (so I thought) thorough visit. His nurse came into the room and he stood up and said "I gotta go!" Panicking, I asked him for scripts for my meds. He then rudely told me that he has not accepted me as a patient yet! I felt like he considered me to be malingering (which is next to impossible to assume because of my physical appearance of over an inch of atrophy is my rsd leg). I mean, I know how badly backed-up doctors get because of their greed. But, come on!!!

So, the next day I called my Neuro (who is wonderful to me! The ONLY doctor who calls me in-between appointments to check on me HIMSELF) and asked him what the heck happened. He read the report from the PM and said "Hmm, I don't know. His report is very vague...". Seems like PM doc doesn't seem to have the treatments I need. Really???? All I need is for someone to prescribe.

Another PM told me that "I want to retire soon. And your case is life-long".

Nobody wants me! My current PM is two hours away, and I've been unhappy with him since the beginning. He just told me that it's MY fault that my leg is so damaged, because I have not done what he wanted me to do (walk backwards on an inclined treadmill! - I can barely walk forward!). My PT laughed when she read the script and said there was no way she would do that to me. I would fall off, hurt myself and hold them liable. Plus, she's not a person who gets into torturing her patients.

Has anyone had a hard time finding a good, caring, sympathetic PM?

Thanks!

Kim

I can only speak for my wife who has RSD and yes, she's been dumped several times here in DC before we found her current doctor (going on 3 years). Funny you mentioned one doc stating they are retiring soon because that is what the wife's current doc has said. It seems docs have two issues with RSD, the meds and a lack of ambition in treating the disease because of its difficulty. Even though I do not have RSD or take meds of anykind except for blood pressure, I've always cringed when my wife would plead for a doctor, who wanted nothing to do with her, for a script to ease her pain. I felt guilty as though we were drug seekers. This of course was before our insurance changed and found a doctor who would treat her in which we have. kim ames, if push comes to shove you could visit my wife's doc, Dr. Quint near Old Town Alexandria, VA. just outside of DC. I like her, she has shown alot of patients with my wife who is not a very good patient......not that I blame her............... The drive for you should be around 2 hours.

Wow! Thanks Jimking!

Isn't it baffling how certain doctors treat us? I noticed this with my children; some doctors are wonderful, while others just don't give a **** (hoot). Whatever happened to the "oath"?...If I were a doctor I would stop at nothing to help my patients. Guess I am just old fashioned.

Thank you for the information. I may just take you up on this. I'm glad you and your wife have found someone to trust in!

Kim

Kim, If you'd like just pm me and I'll email you back Dr. Quints Info. Sometime ago my wife did mention to Dr. Quint that one day we may move to eastern shore and the doc mentioned that she knows a pain doc on eastern shore she would refer us to.

Hi Kim,
I haven't been rejected by a PM doc 'per se' but my previous PM doc said she had nothing left to offer me as I didn;t go along with her constant insistance that I have a spinal cord stimulator..She was not an anasthesiologist and didn't have the knowledge nor the ability to pursue other options! She suggested I seek out other PM docs. We had a mutually agreed -upon parting....

I was, however, rejected by the ortho surgeon who did my ankle surgery...his post op care was terrible and never took my complaints of excessive pain/burn seriously...
I had asked him in June of 2008 if he thought I had RSD..he said "no"
Then in August, it was obvious that that was exactly what I had...
he referred me to the above PM doc and then he closed the book on me to any future appts. I was shocked and angry
I finally sought out another attentive podiatrist who took a great interest in everyting I had to say...he actually e-mails me when I have a question or concern !!..and he writes letters to the WC insurance as he gets very frustrated when they decline his recommendations...
Can your GP or your neuro write your scripts until you find a PM doc that you can relate to?
Your current PM who told you to walk backwards uphill on the treadmill is hazardous and needs some RSD training ASAP!! I hope you find another PM doc soon!!
hugs from Hope4thebest

I have had 2 PM Drs. that refused me. One because I wouldn't join his rehab at 15,000 a pop, the second sent me to a Physcologist to see if I was mentally ok for taking narcotics and the Physch said yes and he still wouldn't see me. At the U of CO. one threw me out because he said I didn't read a book he wanted me to read. I did read it but he didn't even give me time to tell him about it.

My feeling is that they don't know how to deal with the RSD as Jim said, it's time consuming, and the narcotics.

I was talking to my Nurse yesterday and she thinks some of it comes down to us being women. She's on the inside and sees the difference in the treatment of men and women. No offense Men. I love my PCP but I asked him one time if it was a woman thing. He laughed and said not to go there but I do believe it's true. They look at us as malingerer's, hypocondriac, and dramatic.

Luckily my PCP does give me any meds I need so I've been blessed but boy what I went through before I got him.

Hopefully you will find a new PM Dr. soon that won't just push the SCS on you. That seems to be the thing nowadays.

Ada

The doctor did not choose to treat you because he is experienced enough to scope out potential "difficult" patients. Doctors accept difficult cases, but not difficult patients. That is why their malpractice rates are so high. They need to be protected. The PT laughed at the script because she knew what the dr was talking about. Perhaps the doctor's waiting room was full and the wait was long because despite the diminished fees they actually receive, this doctor is not giving patients the bum's rush? So many people have ruined the pain management system i.e. in-house pain management hospitals. They have all been shut down because people misused them like opiod parlors. Now, legitimate sufferers have no place to go. I hope this doctor is dedicated to bringing the respect and the dignity this field deserves to have.
What do you care if the doctor is nice? If the doctor can solve the problem, that's the bottom line.

I give a crap wheather the Dr. is nice. He can be a good Dr. but if he is rude, has a Godlike attitude then his attitude is going to keep him from listening to your ideals and trying new things. A Dr. that cares will try harder in my opinion.

I had one in Denver that I would have liked to slap in the face. I along with my caregiver filed a complaint with the U of CO. He was arragont and rude. I use to walk out of their office crying but I soon learned they weren't worth crying over.

Ada

I get my scripts for my pain meds from my personal care physician whom my husband and I known for many, many years. He is comfortabe writing my pain meds because he knows me so well. Do you have a similar situation available to you with your PCP? In regards to a new PM doc, it would certainly help if you could go to a new one with the idea that you do need t beg for scripts, you just want to get to know the doc, his modalities, his background, phylosophies, etc....

good luck Kim...

If your current doc will write scripts, do you even need a PM? Can you just go see him once every month or two instead? Or at least until you can establish a relationship with a PM? Ask him/her to give you 6 monthes or so, so you don't feel anxious about needing scripts?

And you really have to develop a relationship with a doc when opiates are involved. Yes, you do have to like and trust them, and vice versa. Your putting your life in their hands. And they are entrusting their livelihood that you won't abuse medications they prescribe to you. Your pharmacist as well.

Atrophy is the worst thing that can happen for your RSD. Have you tried warm water pt?