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T4
12-29-2007, 10:49 PM
I know that this topic has been done to death, but the more I think about it, the angrier I get. Last week I had to go to St. Joes, because I couldn't get into my family dr. I suffer from a condition with chronic pain, and have been fighting a losing battle as far as being treated goes.

So I go to St. Joes, go through the procedures and wait for the dr. I then hear one of the dr.'s go "oh geez not her again, I'm not treating her" then they proceed to discuss me. So the other dr. says' "I'll do it"...so in he comes well....here it starts to get heated.

I tell him the situation, tell him I can't get into my family dr. and would he please give me something for the pain. He proceeds to ask me how many times I've been to the ER...I tell him 10 and I say I know that is a lot, but one week of that was for uncontrolled high blood pressure, that my family dr. said I "didn't have"... it was at stroke level and I had to have nitro paste in the end and am now on 3 blood pressure medications daily. He tells me I've been there 15 times, that I'm probably a drug addict that he would not write me a prescription, he would give me a shot and then get out.

I was speechless. Needless to say I started to cry (after he left) the nurse came in and asked me what was wrong and I told her. She was very good, no make that EXCELLENT with me. She apologized for the dr.'s behavior and gave me the medication. I know different nurses in that ER and they understand the condition I have. However, that being said...there have only been TWO of the dr.'s that I have seen there that know what the condition is and have treated me accordingly. According to the newsletter I've received from the Canadian association for RSD...the break down on chronic care training is this...Dr.'s 12-15 hrs (maybe) Nurses 30-60 hrs, and Vets...100 hours!! Maybe I should be going to my vet??LOL

I guess my rant is just that a rant...but I couldn't believe how less of a person I felt when he was finished with me. I cried all the way home in the cab (big baby I know).

I'm not sure if I should lodge a complaint against said dr., or just to leave it alone. My family dr. in his very own words has said this "I am not comfortable in treating your case"...well then where the HECK...does one go....the ER right? Because when I've asked for a referral...the answer is "no" oh, and one last thing...the dr. that WHSCC sent me to see...says the condition is all in my "head" lol....

Any suggestions? I know this is long...but thanks.

sanstu
12-29-2007, 11:18 PM
It is up to you to take charge of your treatment. If it was your family Dr. that diagnosed this condition then work with him/her. Physio, counseling, pain management, and proper medications are all key to effective treatment.

The Drs. at the ER really don't know you from Adam. They do not have your complete medical history, which makes it more difficult to treat you. Personally I wouldn't file any complaint as they were simply doing their job. The ER Dr's. see many patients "requesting" narcotics for pain management. The Dr's have to show some discretion when prescribing or treating patients.

T4
12-29-2007, 11:24 PM
Thank you sanstu...problem with the "taking charge" is that my family dr. won't work with me on this. It has become very frustrating. I know that you are right in what you say about the ER dr.'s, guess like I said I'm just frustrated. Day in and day out dealing with pain..I think it starting to wear thin..for me and those around me. What would you suggest as far as "taking charge"

It was the surgeon that said I had the condition, not family dr. And the surgeon has also said that it is up to the family dr. to treat me.

sanstu
12-29-2007, 11:50 PM
There are lots of sites on the net pertaining to this condition. Totally educate yourself on the condition. Ask for referals to the appropiate specialists; physio, mental health professionals, Dr's that specialize in cronic pain conditions, and don't be intimadated by your family Dr.. He/she probably is not educated in the management of this condition. Also keep a diary, this will enable you to keep track of your pain, triggers and relief methods. This is very helpful not just to you ,but to the professionals working with you. Diet and being active are also important. Best of luck.

jennifer25ca2006
12-30-2007, 02:23 AM
RSD/CRPS is frequently dismissed by health professionals for many reasons including:

They don't understand the diagnosis and/or they are not familiar with the disorder.

They understand the diagnosis but lack experience in how to treat it properly.

Many think that the client is pretending to be ill.

RSD/CRPS is thought to be hopeless and there is no cure. (There is hope!)

RSD/CRPS is purely psychological and that it is not a medical condition, i.e. "It's all in your head". (This is a myth.)

Many people who work within the health care system dread accepting a client with RSD because effective treatment requires an ongoing, almost daily assessment of the condition to develop the proper regimen. It is far too time consuming for most clinics to adequately care for RSD clients.

Due to the nature of RSD, the condition can quickly change for better or worse for reasons that are not fully understood. Therefore it is necessary to schedule evenly spaced treatment sessions in order to benefit the client.

The health care provider must address the plan of care very carefully once the diagnosis is made and must thoroughly customize therapy for each client. All individual characteristics (psychological, social, physiological) must be taken into account during therapy.

Communication between the family members, health professionals, and the client must be clear, ongoing and become well established. It is common for the client to have failed in a previous program if a positive, creative, caring relationship was not established. If either the client or the therapist senses a communication problem, it is far better to acknowledge that another clinician may be of greater benefit to the client's progress.

You might want to check out this site http://www.canadianrsd.com/whatisrsd.htm

icedragon
12-30-2007, 10:03 AM
I learned from personal experience not to bother with the doctors here. I kept my NS MSI card and I go to Halifax.

puppyluv
12-30-2007, 10:20 AM
T4...If I was you, I would contact the patient advocate services there. There is no need for that kind of disrespect. Sadly, many doctors don't get that stuff. Usually it is the younger ones I find that are willing to llisten and move forwards. i WOULD bring it and information you can research forward to the p.a as well..

Even the editor of the news paper should be aware of health care issues!

puppyluv
12-30-2007, 10:22 AM
ps..my father also suffers from chronic pain ( due to arthritis etc..the wc board said it was in his head.he takes 3 or 4 steps and has to stop...) a ladt I know works for the wc board, as an advocate..She says Fight it...that is what her job is for, because they say that t"it's in your head" to many patients...

sarahnb
12-30-2007, 04:14 PM
I would suggest going back to the surgeon who gave the diagnosis and explaining that your doctor is not treating you adequately. Does he/she have another avenue for you to explore when it comes to seeking treatment?
There should be something in your records that show what your condition is. Can he/she find you another family doctor because without someone advocating for you, it won't happen?

Cherry Pop
12-30-2007, 10:10 PM
I agree with sarahnb! I feel for you. I was just diagnosis with this a few weeks ago by one of my surgeons. I had an open wound and by a total miracle it has been healing up on it's own, however I still have a little tissue there that doesn't seem to want to heal up. I'm in pain 24/7 from it and one of my surgeons had me on pain killers which I refused to take because they make me high. Well the surgeon I saw a few weeks ago, realized that I probably have nerve damage there due to having many surgeries in that area. He started me on amitriptyline and I am feeling so much better. No pain and I don't have to be high to have no pain, win-win for me. I totally recommend you go back to your surgeon, who either needs to treat you or tell your family doctor how to treat you. Being in pain 24/7 is unacceptable and inhumane!

T4
12-30-2007, 11:49 PM
my surgeon HAS told my family dr., that it is up to him to treat me. However he WON'T...he has said "he is not comfortable treating my case". Sad to say this...and not that I am about to do it. But now I see why people buy drugs off the street. I am in agony, I have good days and bad...but with no help from my family dr...it's pretty frustrating.

fergiak
01-01-2008, 08:04 PM
I really recommend you getting in touch with the patient advocate-- this is unacceptable-- I have chronic pain and I know what that is like-- I also work in the healthcare field--and know what that is like-- this non-treatment is not acceptable for you. If your doctor is uncomfortable treating you, he/she needs to refer you to someone who will be--

Please contact the patient advocate, I think you will find some guidance there. There is no reason someone who has chronic pain, needs to be in pain.
Sadly, we all have to take our healthcare into our own hands, keep on until you get results, and this may require travel to get pain relief. I have a friend who has to go to Halifax for pain releief due to chronic pain, I don't really know waht he has done there--

T4
01-03-2008, 12:00 AM
I will try and get in touch with the patient advocate. I have made an appointment with my family dr., and plan on saying that if he is not comfortable with treating my condition (which he has already said) then I want to be referred to another dr. I also have information to try and get referred to one of the clinics either in Moncton, Halifax or North Sydney.

patbez
01-10-2008, 10:06 AM
T4:

Regardless of how many patients a doctor sees or how many times you've been there or if they even suspect you're an addict, they should NEVER treat you like that. It's not their job to be rude or disrespectful :/ They could have asked a nurse if they knew more about your condition. I hate when people make excuses for doctors just because they see a lot of patients or are overworked. A lot of people have rough days & are overworked & that's no excuse to be rude or not do your job properly...& bedside manner, wether doctors like it or not, IS part of the job. I for one would def. file a complaint.

Maybe for the future you could get your doctor to write a note describing your condition, so that if you do have to go to the ER you can take it with you? Or print something off the internet to take in to show "look, I actually have a condition"....I know those aren't the best solutions, but they could at least aide in getting you better care if the same situation arises.

Good luck :)