So i have been seeing the same pain doctor for a few months. He is the one who worked with my neurologist or orthopedic to Diagnose me. So he has been great the whole time, seen him 5-6 times. Always was helpful and tried to find me relief.
So i go to the doctor yesturday, and they had scheduled me to see the PA. I asked to see my actual Dr and he was out. So i went ahead and saw the PA. It was the worse experiance. He said that all my symptoms were Psychosomatic..and that he disagreed that i had rsd, that i was too young and healthy ? Then he went on to ask a bunch of personal questions about how i live without working or having insurance.. He also said i should be working because my symptoms dont appear bad. I left the office very upset. It was awful.
I am unsure of what i should do now. try and talk to my original doctor, switch doctors? am i just overreacting?

Unfortunately you will encounter those types of medical personnel. I suggest you see your doc, explain to him what happened and tell him how you felt about the encounter. You have a diagnosis, your doc diagnosed you and apparently his assistant did not agree with him. I would think he would also be interested in learning his PA had insulted his patient. You have done nothing wrong and do not let anyone make you feel like you did.
Don't let this person get you down. You know the pain you feel and so does your doc.

Medical people who do not know or understand what RSD is should be educated. Alot of the time it is the patient that educates.
When you see your doc I hope he understands and helps you feel better.

Take care,

Candice

I have to agree with Kathy that not all health care workers are familiar with RSD. Speaking as a nurse myself, I did not know what it was till I got it.

It is my opinion that you call and leave a message for your dr. to call you and explain to him that his/her PA told you that it was all in your head and that he made you feel even worse then you all ready do.

I am not sure where you live, but there are laws in place in some states that state that healthcare workers are to be educated about RSD. Good luck.

thank you both so much, i just didnt want to make a big deal over something if it wasnt. I have been so emotional lately. This has been taking it out me.

I had such a similar experience with my PM. I had gone once to see the Dr. For a change, he was caring and compassionate and a relief when he agreed with the diagnosis, but insisted we caught it early with a good chance of remission. The next time I went, they put me in with the PA who was short with me, belittled the doctor's opinion and gave me much less powerful medication in less quantity. Now I've been doomed to struggle all month with pain I can't control and two more weeks to wait until I can get in to see the actual doctor. There's nothing much more frustrating than taking time out of your life to seek help and be sent away without much help or relief. Wasting away another month in pain is cruel punishment for someone's lack of education. Remember there may be good docs and PA' s out there but someone has to graduate at the bottom of the class. I think we found them...I won't go back to the PA again. Stick with the doc.

Please please report the PAs to your doc! PAs need MD "sponsorship" in order to practice. They also work for the pain management clinic so they need to have a "Come to Jesus" talk with the clinic manager, If you dont report them then they will continue to abuse others like they have you. Remember YOU are the customer and the customer is ALWAYS RIGHT
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PA answers to MD. Find out who his supervising MD is. Accumulate all medical SOAP notes/reports documenting your DX then file complaint with PA's board.....jerk! Oh, and tell whomever is making you wait for a follow up appt. with the MD that you can get an appt tomorrow with a medmal attorney. Would they like to reconsider making you wait?

I read something once that has stuck with me, and I want to print & hand out to health care professionals like the one you mentioned here. It goes like this…

My disease is more real than your imaginary medical expertise.

I have on occasion gotten frustrated enough to say, if you could look inside and see what I feel, everyone here would freak out and cry out “OMG it’s a medical emergency”. Probably not the best approach. Lots of good advice in the other posts here. So sorry this happened to you.