Had my consult today - Spinal Cord Disorders Message Board

niteterrors · 04-06-2006, 09:46 PM

Sadly, the "report" isn't very good. Now, I've seen many doctors over the years who gave me the feeling of being rushed through an exam, but this one took the cake!

I'd invested nearly 5 hours filling out a survey and detailed report (15 pages) regarding my symptoms and such, associated with my neck pain. This guy took all of about 2 minutes to scan the first page of only one of the 2 surveys, so it made me wonder why I even bothered filling it out.

Then, I asked if we were going to review my MRI films, at which time he asked me "did you bring them in?" when they were there at the clinic. Apparently he hadn't taken the time to review them prior to my appointment as I was told he would do. He then reviewed them, but it was very brief.

After the quick peek at the MRI films (he flat out ignored the x-rays of my neck that I had brought with me from another clinic, btw), he asked me to walk a straight line, then back on my toes, then again on my heels. He pressed my arms down while they were in 3 different positions, each time generating the same response....hand numbness and arm tingling. He then said "I know what's causing this" and proceeds to show me the stenosis on the MRI film. He quickly identified the location on the film, gave a brief explaination on what I was looking at and where the nerve was pinched. He then stood up, shook my hand and said "I'm going to prescribe physical therapy for 6 weeks", then rambled on with sucess rates, followed with the "what if factor" which would lead me to injections and the final option of surgery (which he said, matter of factly, "you're not going to need that, not for many years anyway").

Then he turned to grab the door handle when I managed to get some of my wits about me and stopped him by asking what I was supposed to expect, do in the meantime, if there were any restrictions, etc., at which time he breezed through a summary of what traction does, told me to live my life and if I feel pain, pop Aleve (despite the fact that I told him Aleve upsets my stomach badly and aggravates my acid reflux) and do engage in anything I wanted to...as much as I could tolerate.

Then he left the room.

No lie..I waited nearly 20 minutes to see this guy for a 5 minute consultation and no answers.

The nurse returned with the PT form and I let her know that I had a million questions I wanted to ask him yet. I expressed how I felt he rushed through the appointment and how he didn't even address my x-rays, the disc bulges, the bone spurs or the degeneration. Instead, he basically patted me on the head, told me to have my neck stretched and pop OTC NSAIDS for 6 weeks and see how that goes. Of course, he was prescribing the PT/Traction to "help get rid of the pain", when, if he'd read the summary and actually LISTENED to me, he'd have heard that it wasn't pain I was most concerned about, but rather the numbness!!! I sure hope traction is a treatment for the numbness because if it's not....well, I'll be wasting my time and money going to PT.

Oh...and when I presented the issue of my shoulder pain, upper back and neck swelling and numbness w/activity in addition to another symptom that he admitted to not being familiar with, he asked "did you have your shoulders evaluated?" as if to imply that it wasn't associated with my neck at all.

So, it wasn't a good appointment and I did schedule a first time PT/traction appointment for Tuesday. In the meantime, I'm going to look at neurosurgeons (this guy was an ortho surgeon) and maybe even return to chiropractic.....that is, of course, unless that PT/Traction session proves to be a miracle in the making...ya know?

That's my "report". I was NOT happy and will be filing a complaint, don't doubt that...

Thoughts? Opinions?

dennisgb · 04-07-2006, 08:32 AM

My response is:

Sort of a standard "herd the cattle" approach. Been there...too many times.

Go back to your GP and ask for a different doctor.

Dennis

mb100 · 04-07-2006, 01:03 PM

Hi Niteterrors,

That does sound like a pretty standard response.

The consultation I had with my new doc lasted at least an hour, but I suspect that was because he had a light schedule. I asked how long I would have with him when I made the appointment and his nurse said they scheduled them 10 minutes apart! I about freaked out. He must have had cancellations. Had to.

I had seen another orthopedic surgeon twice for an opinion only. The first time, it was short and sweet. He didnt even look me in the eyes, at least it felt that way. Second visit was a completely different story, He answered everthing I could think of at the time. He seemed genuinely concerned which was a complete suprise after the first time. He also went over my films with me.

Maybe your guy was packin em in like sardines that day, dunno. If you go for a second opinion, or even if you go back to the same guy, make sure you tell them that you will need enough time with him/her to ask alot of questions, and explain why. Insist on it. I dont know if that will help, but it's worth a try.

In the mean time, maybe the pt will help. Hell, it could be all you need. who knows.

As always, I'm not a doctor blah blah blah...

Take it slow and dont hurt yourself, Mike

acdfouch · 04-07-2006, 02:14 PM

I agree with everyone.

Both on the reaction you got and the steps to take.

On the reaction side, in my experience, and others it seems, surgeons (moreso on the neuro side) are interested in the surgery. If you need it, they will tell you so. If not, they will tell you not. That's about the end of it.

And I would keep in mind that there is a chance that your guy did things the way mine did. While you were getting the 3949400349 questions, the surgeon may have already viewed your films / was reviewing and basically took the symptom info you gave and matched with the "physical evidence".

If they matched, and were bad - he may have suggested surgery.

If they were not, then its time to try the "baby step stuff".

Physical therapy, letting the body heal etc etc...

I think many of us have gone this route.

Surgery is the last route - I wouldn't be too anxious to jump into it. Not that it doesn't work... I would just use it as a last resort once you have exhausted all other options.

That isn't to say you need to spend month after month on that stuff, but at least give it a shot.

You don't want to put yourself through major surgery without trying the non-invasive route first.

I'm not a doc either - just play one on the internet.

Best of luck and you will find tons of support here!