I called to follow up to make sure I was scheduled for an appointment with the surgeon my new PCP referred me to a month ago. I had gone to a different doctor in that office for a second opinion about a year ago. The one my regular doctor referred me is the head of the department. After I got through to the receptionist, she kept mentioning a second opinion, and I kept telling her that I was changing my group of doctors and needed to have someone to go to if I (heaven forbid) became paralyzed. I mentioned that I currently have no pain management, and she went into a soliloquy about they are surgeons and not physiatrists. My back and hip have been acting up for the past few days, and I'm really frustrated because I have nowhere to go. I'm taking naproxen, which isn't doing anything, and using heat patches.

Do I need surgery now? No. Might I need emergency surgery in the future? It's possible. I've had a few good months, and now, after two bad days, I'm having trouble not obsessing about this whole back thing again. Also, there is a spine center in town, but they won't see me without a MRI that is less that six months old. But I can't get anyone to order me one!

I feel like crying. Agggghhhhh!

Thanks for letting me vent,
Valerie
T 8-9 w/cord impingement

For heaven's sake, no wonder you are frustrated. These doctors and their stupid regulations....well, if you need a new MRI, can you get your family dr to order one for you? Do you have any chance of getting a new MRI ordered by the last surgeon you saw...really, it's no skin off their butts to order an MRI. I get so frustrated at the inane "rules" they make us adhere to. If the clinic wants you to have an MRI before being seen then wy don't they order one for example. Don't they understand that we are SICK, we are in pain, we are frustrated; where is their common sense and compassion? Sorry to rant on your vent here, but this subject just makes me crazy!

I'd get on that phone and gripe my head off until someone does something!

Carol

Valerie,
Talk to your family Doc.explain to him the situation.
I'm tired of the receptionist.If they had the pain I endure on a daily basis they'd side step their policy's.I've seen 7 Doc's in the last 6 month's.2 I'll never return to.Their bed side manners were rude and I don't like the assembly line medicine.Since I take the time to arrive at my appointments on time the least they can do is spend more than 5 minutes with a patient,especially a new patient.After 6 months of frustration I went back to my family Doc and he says he's found a very repitable Dr. that came from the mayo clinic and this Dr. was tired of the assembly line medicine.Talk to your Doc.convince him into ordering the MRI.,if the pain gets to unmanageable go to the emergency room,you get things a rolling.
Best wishes
Toni