Kathy, I am so sorry about your experience at the Hosp. We are supposed to get well, not tortured.What's the deal with Dr. S. When I saw him many years ago he wanted none of his patients to suffer from any kind of pain! Dis you ever get to talk to him or a social worker before you were released, to tell them what was going on with your pain? I would report this to the administer of the Hosp. tell them how badly you were treated and that you fell in his Hosp. make sure that this is a private issue and you do not want your name on this, as you may have to go back for you boosters, I'm really shocked that this happened, as Dr.S is a great guy,Are you sure that he even knew that all this wierdness was happening? Again I am so sorry for what happened to you,And I hope you get to feeling better real soon.
Your friend Wendy

Dear Kathy,

Wow!! What a bummer!! I also think that you need to ensure that Dr. S is made aware of what happened and how poorly you were cared for while you were hospitalized at Drexel. No one should feel terrorized while they are in the ICU. I'm so, so sorry.

Please take care of yourself and focus on feeling better. Instead of returning to Dr. S for your boosters, you could consider Dr. Getson. His clinic is only 10-15 miles away in Marlton, NJ. He trained wit Dr. S at Drexel for a long time. And I am certain, from my experience with him, that he will not have a problem writing scripts for the meds that you need to keep you comfortable. If you call his office perhaps they will take you right away based on your situation. 856-983-7246.

Good luck to you. XOXOX Sandy

First I am so sorry for all you are going through. I was hoping you would benefit and get relief. Tomorrow I would call Dr S office and ask to speak to him. The nurse will probably call you back but explain what happened and that you need to speak to him directly. The way you were and are being treated is unacceptable. Did you fall in the hospital?
I'm confused if the first infusion there were not benefits and it was such a bad experience do they still do the booster? Sorry if I am lost. Is Hahnemann Hospital where they do the infusions from Dr S? For some reason I thought it was done at Drexel.
I wish I had more answers and relief for you. If you want an email buddy to listen I'm here. Take care.

FYI - Hahnemann Hospital in Philly was acquired by Drexel a few years ago. Same place and people, different name.

UNACCEPTABLE!!!! So not right..I am so sorry for everything you and your family had to endure.. I am so in agreement..please, call Dr. S's office..speak directly to him..He needs to hear every point and then the next call needs to be Dr. Getson's, Sandy's recommendation..for your boosters to be done...OMG..that is just terrible.. I hope soon you will get some relief and be able to put this experience behind you... ALL WRONG!!

Love, Kathy

Just to clear some confusion up about Hannanhmein Hospital and Drexel University. Drexel is a teaching medical institution not a hospital there is no "Drexel Hospital". There students from what I understand do fellowishisps and residentsies at Hannanhmein and Hosp. of Philly. Dr. S patients go to Hannanhmein. I think the one very different issue with Hannanhmein is that is was brought my Tenat, which I don't know the connection but they are a medical corporation exactly what they do is a unknown towashed me and changed my sheets everyday the care was incredible. I have also me.

I did mine at Hospital for Special Surgery with Dr. Richman, and I saw him 3x's a day everyday,PT came on Wed. to start moving me and would not let me leave until I could walk on my own, I also had 5 surgeries there and the treatment is was the same.

And one more thing I just have to clear up the boosters, which I did with Dr. S after each time I did a 5 day inpatient , Dr Richman does not do boosters, are nothing like a 5 day inpatient infusion. I don't mean to make light of the people who choose the booster route.

Just all be carefull who you let do this procedure to you.

Good luck.

Gabbycakes

Thanks Gabby for clarifying the relationship between the 2 institutions (Drexel and Hahnemann). I grew up outside of Philly and always had heard that Hahnemann was an amazing place. It seems like something has definitely changed.

Too bad we all can't see Dr. Richman. He sounds awesome. But he doesn't accept WC. As a matter of fact, I may have read that he's not accepting any insurance right now at all...only cash.

Dr. Getson accepted me as a patient, knowing I was a WC victim, and he never sent me a bill (which I ran up to the tune of $40,000). He waited for the RI WC courts to approve payment for his services, which took many months. In the meantime, when I freaked over the under payments by United Healthcare, he calmly told me, "I know I am going to get paid." He is one of the nicest doctors I have ever met. AND he is highly competent. I have yet to find a PM doctor in my home state of RI that will take care of my RSD without WC pre-approval.


Sandy

Kathy -

I am so sorry to hear what you went through.

This is all so strange to me. Six years ago I had a 5-day Lidocaine infusion at Hahnemann, owned at that time by Tenant, with wonderful care provided by Dr. Schwartzman and his group, Drexel Neurological Associates. I remember one morning in great pain - the Lidocaine wasn't working - and a kindly resident prescribed a shot of Demerol. And then when my hospitalization took an extra day because I needed a (now quaint) central line in order to get the leads into my constricted veins, Dr. Schwartzman came in on a Saturday and spent over an hour in a discharge meeting with my wife and me, explaining that a trip to Germany for the ketamine coma was then my best option: something that was scratched once the German doctors learned I had glaucoma.

But in my time, the only thing that people of that time routinely complained of was how hot the 20th floor always seemed to be.

I have no idea what/why things appear to have changed. The one thing that hasn't - to my knowledge - is the ketamine patient's need to remain as stress free as possible in the weeks after discharge, in order for the infusion to do its thing. As tough as that sounds, you have to try and give it a go.

Good luck.

Mike

PS Sandy, let me get the jump on Pete here, Dr. Getson trained with Dr. Schwartzman alright, but it was at Thomas Jefferson Hospital, i.e. pre-Drexel University School of Medicine. Heck, I remember when Drexel was just an engineering school adjacent to 30th Street Station.

Thanks Mike, I knew there was another hospital involved but could not think of the name.

I was shocked also to here of the care but the takeover by Tenat or Tenant
has changed things.

Gabbycakes

Thank you for clearing some of my questions up. So Dr S does not see you daily while you are having the treatments? Is there another doctor who is checking you? See for me the reason I would go to Dr S would be to see him and be treated by him not by someone else.
I'm wondering if things have changed with how Dr S because he is busier now with so many RSD patients plus the other type of patients he see's.
Anyhow kathy I hope you are resting and feeling better.