If money was not a problem and location did not matter either what doctor would you want to see in the USA....We are looking for another doctors opinion on my boyfriends RSD and we want to see a specialist of RSD and I know there are not many but I need some names of reputable RSD doctors to research and present to workers compensation..Another thing is someone that doesn't have a 2-3 year waiting list like Dr. Schwartzman..
thank you so much!!!!
The info i get from this board and the members on it is absolutely amazing and I thank you all soooo much!!!!!

Dr. Richman at the Hospital for Special Surgery in NYC.

But he may not be taking any new patients....I tried to get in there a few years ago and I couldn't. Perhaps things have changed?

Good luck.

TiffanyC, Dr. Kirkpatrick in Tampa Fla. does specialize in RSD and runs the Research Foundation for RSD/CRPS. He takes patients much quicker(2weeks instead of 2years!) than Dr. S. I have seen both and both know RSD and are known as experts in the field. w/c might not want him to see one of them because they will give an opinion they might not like. He can still go for evaluation at Dr. and pay for it himself and give w/c a copy of report and receipt for them to pay. I think it's just important to look up either a neurologist or an anesthesiologist in your area that specializes in RSD. Sometimes they may specialize in a couple of things like RSD, CP, fibromyalgia. My pain Dr. has treated patients with RSD and is up to date with changes. Or check and see if there is a Dr. in your area that has done recent seminars on RSD. I know i looked up current articles written about RSD and checked out authors and where they were located. Good luck on your search.

Hi Tifanny,
I have heard wonderful things about atlanta pain doctors. They are one of only three facilities in the U.S. that do tDCS (transdirect cranial stimulation). I had this treatment myself at another facility and it helped me. It is non-invasive and has very low risk of side effects. If you are close to Atlanta it might be well worth the trip.

Teri

Tiffany,

I took my daughter that was 15 to Dr. Kirkpartrick in Tampa Florida. I love him. He was wonderful and very knowledgeable.

Good luck,
Sandy

Thanks all..Kirkpatrick was the top of my list already and our case worker is looking into it..Geoff has tried almost everything there is to try as far as the research i have done shows so we are looking for one more opinion and any options they may think he has before we settle with workers comp..Pretty much any doctor we have ever seen says he has the worst case of RSD they have ever seen and we have basically gone as far medically as we can...

Hi Tiffanyc:

I'm sure you are aware that Dr. Kirkpatrick requires that you pay him cash up front. That is the only thing, for me, that would wave a huge red flag. Just please be careful. I have done ketamine 3 - 5 day inpatient with Dr. Richman in NYC and my insurance paid for most of it each time. I did have some out of pocket but truly not much compared to what it all cost at the end. The insurance paid for almost all of it.

Gabbycakes

I used to think doctors who refuse insurance also sent up a red flag with me, not anymore. Doctors sign contracts with each and every insurance they want to except. In that contract it could and does dictate to the doctor how they he/she will treat the patient, especially long term chronic care patients, because of the bottom line. Refusing insurance allows the doctor to treat the patient the way they want to without the insurance company standing in between the patient and doctor. Make no mistake not all health insurance is the same, not even close in many aspects. A doctor will treat two patients with the same condition differently when each has different insurance. I know this because I dealt with 4 different insurance companies and the treatment of RSD.

Dr. Hoosemand in Fl, but he's retired....his research on the RSD puzzle is dead on. My GP is the only dr in my area that has been sympathetic to my condition. He has MS and is very knowledgeable about my case in particular because I was born with Cerebral Palsy. He feels that I have had RSD for many more years than first thought, because of the multiple surgeries on my legs. He has my meds just right at the moment and if gas and daycare wasn't so high, I would probably be able to go back to work. I have found that selling on Ebay is supplementing our income just fine and doesn't cause me any stress.

Three years with RSD and the family has FINALLY come to terms with it and our lives have a different routine. Last week, I had a flare and only slept two hours a day. Saturday I was so exhausted that I slept for fourteen hours and the whole family left me alone. Three years ago that would have NEVER happened.

So, finding the right doctor and having them meet with your family is key to "living" with RSD

During my ketamine procedures I had 3 different insurance companies, Oxford, Healthnet and GHI and each paid for it. I do agree with you that doctors treat patients dfferently why is a mystery to me. If we don't stand stronge our health care in this country will become worse then it already is. When a person decides to get into the medical field unfortunatly for them it means dealing with the insurance companies, that's just part of being in that industry. If we pay cash to a doctor to me that sends a message that it's ok to go against the rules. I don't like what is going on with our healthcare either but I would not pay a doctor cash for a procedure when I have health insurance that we pay for and all it would take is the proper individual to process the claim and do it correctly. But hiring that type of person cost money and some would rather just say I take cash only then really help there patients in the long run instead of breaking them financially.

Gabbycakes