feeling dumped by Dr

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fusionfrustrati

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Long history short. April 16th 2009 I had my 3rd spinal surgery the 1st 2 being simple disectomies. This last being a 2 level fusion lurabar. Also should mention I used a different surgeon for the fusion because my first neurosurgeon is currently incarcerated. So new Dr.
Surgery was April 16th 2009 now 9 days shy of three months later I STILL have not been seen by mt neurosurgeon. I have set up apt, they were cancelled randomly. I showed to an apt and they forgot to bring my charts down from Vegas so I wasn't seen. I have to call to request my perscriptions twice now they have "forgotten" to mail them to me.
I am FED UP FRUSTRATED and CONCERNED with my overall health. I do not have post-op instructions I am un-aware of my limitations and I feel like I am going crazy trying to figure this out on my own. I am NOT a neurosurgeon. I have not had post op x-rays to see if I am healing properly, I haven't had therapy of anysort. And I am so glad I wasn't staples closed or they'd still be in!
I have gone as far as looking for new Neurosurgeon but no one wants to see me and tell me I need to follow up with my neurosurgeon.
What am I supposed to do.:confused:
 
Boy, your story is almost unbelievable!

After having back surgery, especially a fusion, you need follow-up care to make sure your have healed properly.

You need to decide whether you want to try continuing to work with this doctor or not, and also whether you want to report this doctor to the proper regulating authorities. By proper regulating authorities, what I mean is that all doctors have to be licensed to work in a state and you could report this doctor to that licensing authority if you wanted to - you could start with contacting your state's department of health and getting referred from there to the proper agency.

If you do want to try continuing to work with this doctor, I would suggest writing a letter explaining what has happened so far with your after surgery care and expressing your concern about getting the proper future care - this might spur them into action. Keep a copy of the letter in case this goes sour in the future and you possibly need legal help.

It's true that once you have had surgery with a surgeon no other surgeon will want to see you for at least 6-12 month afterwarRAB. If, however, you are not able to get proper care really soon from the surgeon who did your surgery, you may want to try seeing one of these other surgeons. Again, write them a letter explaining your reason for wanting to change to them, but realize that it may be several months before one of them would take you.

Warm wishes to you and I'm sorry you are experiencing this - be assertive and make sure you get the care you need.
 
I'm sorry you aren't getting the care you need. Would your local family doctor be willing to prescribe pain meRAB for you? Or can you go to a local pain management doctor for them? They can also take a look at the incisions and at least make sure you're healing properly on the outside. Fusion won't even start showing until at least 3 months, sometimes much longer, so there's no need for x-rays prior to that, except to make sure the hardware is still in place if there's any doubt.

I hope you get the pain relief you need! Did you see on the other post about Ibuprofen? You shouldn't be taking it while you're trying to fuse. I guess your wonderful doctor forgot to mention that, too!

Emily
 
I completely agree with Brenda! You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar! Like she said, the doc may not even be aware that the staff is treating you like this. Example: Hubby had an appt with our regular doc. He was 10 minutes late. After waiting for 10 more minutes, the receptionist told him the doctor couldn't see him because he was on the phone and my husband had been late. When hubby had a new appt several days later, he apologized for being late and the doctor was very upset. He said it didn't sound at all like him to refuse to see a patient for being 10 minutes late and that he hadn't been on the phone, either. He wanted to know which girl it was and all the details so he could follow up on it.

I would address you letter to the doctor with "confidential" written on it so the staff doesn't open it to screen and discard it without ever showing it to him.

Hope it all works out for you.

Emily
 
Thank you so much! I am working on a more heartfelt letter and with-holding my anger. I do have concerns about how the fusion is setting. The 1st few weeks were REALLY rough, then I had a few weeks where I thought I saw the light at the end of the pain tunnel. And for the last 2 weeks I am having slight signs of re-occuring sciatica as well as pelvic pain on the back side. After reading the posts I immediately stopped IBU. THANK YOU!
Should I request an x-ray?
 
I have started a letter to my Dr. With specific dates and such and have asked in the letter if I should attempt to find a new surgeon, and also mentioned contacting the AMA... Is it a good idea to mention these things in the letter?
I am really not sure what to do...
 
If it were me I'd write a non-threatening letter to the surgeon. By asking if you should find a new doctor or contact the AMA, that makes the tone of the letter very threatening and you may find that the doctor would dump you then. If you write a polite letter but clearly indicate that you are unsatisfied with the follow-up care you have received so far with the supporting details and dates, there is a good chance you will get action if this is a reputable doctor. Keep a copy of this letter and if you don't get action within a month, then find a new doctor and contact the AMA/state dept. of health. It's possible that the surgeon doesn't even know that this mess is going on - he/she doesn't do the scheduling and mailing of scrips, and the problem may have been caused by some new or very unqualified support staff. There is a good chance that the doctor would be very upset if they found out what has been going on. Your letter should be addressed to both the doctor and the head of the medical center. Another option or something to do in addition is to call and request or even demand that the surgeon call you back - it may take several phone calls to achieve this. Talking to them directly may also get some action.

One thing to keep in mind is that surgeons make a lot of money from the surgery, but very little in follow-up care (in comparison). This doctor already has the majority of profit he/she will get from you, so you don't hold the carRAB here. If this is a reputable doctor you will get the care you need and deserve very quickly, but if this doctor isn't reputable, then you will get no action or little action. In that case you will need to find another doctor (explain the details and what actions you have taken to get them to take you) and report this surgeon.

Warm wishes for a smooth road ahead!
 
I emailed my Dr a letter expressing my concerns. I followed up with a phone call and actually got a responce! Granted I wasn't able to speak with my Dr directly but I have been scheduled to see him on August 18th at 9:45am. I also asked for an order for an x-ray. They have not yet approved or denied my request but will get back to me...
I woke up this morning with severe pain in my lower right side of my back. It's directly on a bone and feels bruised but there is no bruising. The pain is significant enough that I am walking with a heavy limp. My husband think I should go to our local ER and get x-rays and see what they say. I don't know if I should basically because I know the ER dept will only prescribe pain meRAB and tell me to follow up with my Neuro in 5 days which never happens...
 
I really think you should go to the er. i had x-rays every 2 weeks for the first 3 months and your going on 4 months with out even seeing him i really feel for you that is far from right i would also contact an attorny for a malpractice lawsuit you had major surgery he should have seen you every 2 weeks. i really hope there is nothing wrong go and get checked just to be safe there is alot of things that could go wrong even a piece of bone graft could have moved out of place and its not yourfault they gave you no instructions how to take care of your self. feel better soon and hope all is well.
 
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