Hi SweetTheresa,

If you cannot be seen at Johns Hopkins in 2 weeks, please consider Dr. Cerino, I promise you will not regret it. He has offices in Towson and Baltimore, very close to Johns Hopkins.

I do hope you can be seen by your first choice as Johns Hopkins does have a cache' which may or may not be important in your case. I did not have a positive experience there, but I was seen by someone else. I had an attorney who was suing the business where I was injured and he was enamored by the idea of a report from J-H.

It took me four months for my first visit and another 3 1/2 months to receive a tepid admission that ALL of the other specialists I had seen were CORRECT in their diagnosis and I also had provided to J-H, a series of clearly positive test results.

When I had my first appt. at Johns Hopkins, my medical records were not even looked by the Neurologist. He and his partner were two of the most arrogant people I have ever met....and I have met many. My Husband, an attorney, was with me and HE was shocked too. Oh, I could go on and on, but it would not be fair to the physican you will be seeing.

I know many people who are highly educated and hold important professional positions, who were treated like dirt at J-H. That is just a fact, so don't be surprised. That is the 'culture' there.

I hope this new speciaist has not adopted that 'attitude' yet. They are not gods, so if you feel they are wrong, YOU might be right! J-H had the only specialists who salivated at the idea of (multiple) surgeries on me and then admitted, after I questioned this advice, that these MAJOR proceedures might not make any difference and could make me worse.

When I first inquired about surgery causing problems, he said "Oh, THAT won't happen!!!, then recanted after I stared in disbelief at his utter lack of humility. I am omitting a horror story about that Doc, because the woman you are trying to see might be wonderful.

I just don't want you to believe that an opinion at J-H is the end all and be all...a word to the wise. Please PM me if you have questions.

Anne

sweet T,
If you haven't checked your State website for the workers compensation info , do that too , most states have helpful info and even case outcomes, judgments etc.
I know in some states you can change to a dr of your choice at some point.
And it doesn't need approval by w/c.
Don't be afraid to fire your w/c atty if you can't get any help or results from him/her!
at least mention that you are thinking of finding a new one if you don't get results.
some just want the easy % of whatever $$ you might get and not what is the best thing for you.
I think I should have fired mine and tried to find a better one.

hello SweetT
I'm also from NJ! Where are you located? I'm in the southern half of our state. I do believe we have 2 or 3 other folks here from Jersey. (Is is epidemic here or what ) Sorry you had to "FIND" us this way.
If you have questions these folks are a great source of info. Just when I thought I was losing it, I found out that it was just another symptom and I wasn't imaging it!
What type of TOS do they think you have may I ask?? I personally suffer from true neurogenic tos with vascular symptoms (subclavian steal syndrome)
HM

The doctor who diagnosed me is so bad, he didn't even tell me what type of tos it is.
Said my only option was to get decompression of the brachial plexus ( and than possible surgery on my elbow and wrist the following year.
I'm close to NYC, but will drive to Pa,NY, or anywhere in NJ if I can find a good doctor who takes insurance.
I totally feel like i'm losing it, so i'm interested in finding out what you mean by it being just another symptom.
After 1 1/2 years of such chronic pain, I have such little energy left that it's so hard to fight off this depression, let alone try and fight for myself to get better.
I need strength, I need to fight for my health, it's just easier said than done.
This is all so confusing.
Thank you SO MUCH for writing to me. Just when I feel alone and at a loss for what to do, I sign on to this site and get re-energized a bit with new info as to what I can do next to fight this thing, fight these work comp doc's and get some help

Bumping up for new people...just fyi. Thought there was a lot of good info. already posted here.