Are Neurosurgeon's allowed to do this?

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scrappinmaniac

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A little background first...

...a year ago I had a fusion (L5-S1), when I had the fusion I had 2 other disc that were herniated (L1 and L3) but my NS (neurosurgeon) convinced me to let him take a conservative approach and only fuse the disc he thought was causing my pain, he said if I was still experiencing as much pain after the standard recovery period then he would go back in and fuse the other 2 herniated discs. My NS turned out to be deceptive...the fusion did not take my pain away and in October 2007 he referred me to a terrible PM doctor instead of moving forward with another surgery...I believe he referred me to a PM doctor b/c he thought I was addicted to my pain meRAB, which could not have been further from the truth...my pain level since the surgery has more than doubled compared to what it was before I had surgery...anyway, the PM doctor my NS referred me to was terrible so I went back to my former PM doctor, the doctor I was seeing before surgery...this doctor decided to send me for a consult/a second opinion witih a new neurosurgeon (I'll refer to him as NS #2)...this new NS was very arrogant and rude...the appt was aweful, he talked down to me the entire time, he told me that I needed to have L1 fused but b/c I was (and I guess I still am) a chronic narcotic user I needed to stop using narcotics for atleast 2 months before surgery or my post-op pain would be aweful...needless to say, I left the appt and decided this NS wasn't ever touching me, but while I was there I did sign a paper giving his office permission to obtain my recorRAB from my first NS's office...that is the only paper I signed. That appt took place back on 02.11.08. Today I receive a copy of my recorRAB from my first NS (the surgeon who did my fusion)...I have been trying to obtain a copy of my recorRAB from this NS since January, his assistant has made up every excuse under the sun as to why I haven't received my recorRAB, she most recently said my recorRAB had been lost....as I said, today I finally received a copy of my recorRAB and to my surprise I also found enclosed a fax from NS #2 to my first NS and it is a dictation of my appt with him, at the end of the dictation he says to my first NS that he 'will certainly keep you informed of her follow-up visits'.

My question is...is this a violation of my privacy? I did NOT give NS #2 permission to discuss anything with my first NS and I am extremely upset that he did. Do I have any recourse? I would appreciate any advice.

Thank you.

Scrappin'
 
Well, that is what Drs do. I was very surprised when I found out that my Second opinion Dr sent recorRAB about this visit to my first surgeon. I was shocked.
I believe it calls "medical ethics". I will tell you even more: first time I went for second opinion in same area where my first surgeon works and during my app , hew went and talked on a phone with my first surgeon! He told me himself that he wanted to find out why did i need a surgery to begin with. I was very surprised to say the least.

The most important thing for you to stay with a good Dr and make sure that everything is done to help you.
When i went for my first surgery for L-4, L-5 S-1, my surgeon told me that level L-3 is 50/50 and he will see during surgery what will he do with it. Well, he decided to leave it alone so far because more levels fused, more problems may occure later on.
A year and a half later I had L-3 L-4 done again. My second surgeon said my L-2 is 50/50 and he decided not to touch it at this time.
I wonder how high problems can go? And i feel more levels are fused, more need to be fused later on due to spine becomes weaker after surgeries...

Best of luck to you.
 
In many doctors' offices, the papers you fill out and sign before you even see the doctor give him permission to discuss your case with whomever he feels it would be prudent to discuss it with. It's a very general statement, one of those things that you might not even notice, it's so typical of any doctor's office. You might have signed something like that without realizing it.

Sorry about that, but you might have accidentally given him permission. :( Maybe not, but it's been my experience to see those forms pretty regularly.

Emily
 
I have seen doctor after doctor about my back. Now I better say it is the doctors sending me to them not me doctor hopping.
And Like what you have said they think you are basically a drug seeking fool, which by the way you nor me is one of those. Let them put up with the pain we experience each day and see if they can cope.
I have been sent to Phycoligist to as they were trying their best to tell me its all in my mind. I hate these verbal brain surgeon's they are the ones who really talk down to you.
And no I think what has happened is totally wrong and i would ask them just how and why and talk to them in the same manner as they speak to you. I know I have don't this and these people dont like it one little bit but it got the respect that they should have given in the first place.
I have to see a doctor about my shoulders as I have got frozen shoulders now to add to every thing else. Now he's an arrogant man but he doesn't bull s**t about. He looked at my scans and booked me in to have it operated on. So that is a good start.
I hope you stand up for yourself and if you are afraid to take some one in with you, as i find I do forget what they have told me and the other person remerabers it.
And I'm seeing another back doctor in August (late) in the hope that he will fuse a few more levels on me as I know they need doing, As we live in our bodies we know if its right or wrong. And I'm on injections once more so this is proof that I need more done as tablets dont help as good as they use to.
 
It must be a neurosurgeon thing . My first surgery was with a neuro , he did a laminectomy / fusion at my L4-L5 area , after a few months started therapy because he said I was fusing well .. Well I ended up snapping a pedical screw and horrible pain , went back to him after I got an MRI and he said there isn't anything more he could do for me . I ask what about the broken screw .. He said it's ok it isn't causing any problems and that I should go seek nerve blocks , well I already did and they didn't help.. He pretty much told me to leave .. So I went to a Orthopedica spine specialist and soon as he saw my MRI he flipped and said I needed that taken out .. 2 weeks later he did a complete revision .. Now I suffer from nerve damage thanks to that Neuro.. But I found that other neuro's would not take over my care.. I think they have something going on. :mad:

My advise , try an orthopedic spine specialist in your area and see what they say. Sorry your going through this, and hope things do get better.

Shawley
 
I got a second opinion recently. The new guy made it clear that if I chose him, I would be dumped by guy nuraber one. Further, he said that he would be sending a MEDICAL NOTE to doctor nuraber one to let him know that I had sought a second opinion. I think these guys are all sleeping together. Needless to say, I stayed with doctor nuraber one because doctor nuraber two does not prescribe. His plan was to live in pain and head to surgery (I think).....As of today, I'm going to sit back, be glad I have the meRAB (only 30 every month) and reassess my future until I can figure out the next best step.

I think the difference here is that you doctor did not tell you he was going to 'tattle' like mine did. However, he did not give me a choice in the matter, so I assume (?) that its legal? But I dunno.....
 
Moldova,

I, too, have to say I am shocked that doctors practice this way.

In the past, during times when your second opinion surgeon has contacted your first surgeon, or vice versa, have you noticed a difference in how the surgeons treat you or the quality of care you receive?

It has always been my understanding that the point of a second opinion is to obtain an unbias opinion from a different doctor in the same specialty...if doctors contact one another to discuss us, how can we expect to get a fair second opinion? We can't. How discouraging.

Thank you for your advice. I appreciate it. By the way, I am so glad you're doing well.

Take care,
Scrappin'
 
At this point, I will believe anything. Many doctors just really try to look after one another and protect each. Sometimes I wonder if you really can get an honest second opinion or not.
 
I appreciate all of your replies and advice. Thank you!

Emily - Unfortunately, I know you are probably correct. Thanks!

Greenjeans - Do you recall signing a release giving the second opinion doctor permission to discuss you with your first doctor? If you did not, then I would assume second opinion doctor should keep his medical note to himself. What happens if your first doctor gets upset b/c you went to another doctor, and he thought you were trying to doctor shop....he could technically refuse to give you scripts for your meRAB any longer.

Pepper - I 100% agree with you.

Tattman - Thank you for your advice.

Shawley - I think you are right, it must be a neurosurgeon thing. If I have to find a neuro again, before any further surgery, I will not have surgery...I don't like them and I don't feel like I can trust them. I have not seen any orthopedic spine specialists, but I will take your advice and give them a try. At this point, I have nothing to lose. Thanks!
 
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