Thoracic Surgeon

[Shebo]

Hello everyone. I wanted to post and see what you as non-medical, spiney patients thought.

After 7 long months, I finally convinced my PM to order a new MRI and Myelogram. The tests showed that my T9/10 herniation has gotten worse (I could have told them that ) My Orthopedic surgeon referred me to a local specialist of thoracic and spine issues. How they schedule appointments is the surgeon reviews your records and then decides whether or not he will see you. I received a call back from the specialist's office saying that he will not see me because I have already had surgery by a local physician. Has anyone heard of this? If I had surgery by an out of town physician, then he would see me? Or, is he suggesting that I am doctor hopping? But, I had a referral.

I am sending my records to Dr. Jho and Dr. Regan. Are there any other doctors out there who specialize in thoracic? Any other ideas or options?

My PM had talked about an ablation and more ESI's before my new tests. Now she says that my condition is operable and she won't do any procedures until I see a surgeon. I called and told her the specialist won't see me and she said to talk to my Orthepedic surgeon since he was the referring physician. Left messages...

Wow, I feel like I'm getting the run around. What do you think?

[jsewell]

Shebo i feel really bad for you. It is crazy that a surgeon would not see you because you already had surgery by another doctor. Just nuts. don't think i would go to that guy now.
I did have thoracic VATS done by DrRegan and must tell you some accident happened during surgery and now i only have 45% lung capacity which sucks as i love to exercise and am out of breath walking up my stairs. Well accidents and complications do happen.
What made and still makes me really mad about DrRegan is that he NEVER came to see me in the hospital even though i was put on a respirator . He actually left me a message (wrong cell) saying every thing was ok. I was on a respirator and they were not sure i was going to make it at the time!!!!! Never came for the 2 weeks i was in the hospital and his staff called and said i must come in because he was going out of town. well i invited him to the hospital, and he was a no show. When i was well enough to go see him, he never owned up to something happening to me. Not my choice of a surgeon.
judy

[mmglobal]

maybe he doesn't want to see you for another reason and is just using that as an excuse. Maybe he's doing you a favor because he is not good at what you need?

This sounds so screwed up, I would still ask his office to justify that policy... what purpose does it serve? How is it related to good patient care that you should be forced to see a particular surgeon and precluded from getting other opinions???

Mark

[Tbackpain1]

When I was first persuing surgical consults outside my local area, I forwarded med records and films to Dr. Curtis Dickman and Dr. Regan. Here's Dr. Dickman's link:

Dr. Curtis Dickman

Here's the link for Barrow Neurological Institute where Dr. Dickman works: Barrow Neurological Institute Home

I also consulted with Hospital for Special Surgeries (NYC) with Dr. James Farmer and Dr. Frank Cammisa.

Utlimately, I decided to forgo surgery and persue pain management. 10 years later, I'm back to work and stable for the moment. My big fat ugly herniations at T7-T8, T9-T10 have resorbed enough that there's no significant neuro symptoms that would warrant surgery, although there's still alot of radicular nerve pain. T11-T12 looks like a black smudge now from the DDD.

Best of luck to you.

Theresa

[dshobbies]

Shebo,

I think we should rename the run-around you're receiving to something akin to a four letter word, like ICAP, insurance companies avoiding payouts, or DSPC (pronounced dispick) doctors suck at patient care, etc. I bet we can come up with some doozies.

I think I would get the insurance company involved. The specialist obviously contracts with your insurance company and your orthopedic surgeon feels you need more of a specialist. A previous surgery should not preclude you from receiving the care your paying for. If this specialist won't see you, get your insurance company to either get you another one or allow you to seek your own.

Your insurance company has rules you must follow for their payment. I think it's up to them to provide you with access if one of their doctors denies you care. At least that's what I think!

Dale

[Shebo]

Thank you all for the replies.

Dale, I'm not sure that it is an insurance issue. However, sometimes I am clueless. With my insurance, I can see whomever I want.

The physicians group that this specialist belongs to has a lot of rules to just get an appointment. The orthopedic surgeon's office (referring doctor) said that sometimes it is nearly impossible and that they have "weird rules".

Judy, thanks for the info on Dr. Regan. I would at least like to hear what he has to say.

Mark, I agree. He is the leading thoracic back surgeon in the area which is disappointing. I have never heard of such a policy. I don't understand what a surgery that was done a year ago by another physician has to do with what is going on now.

Theresa, thank you so much for the info. I will check these out.

[Maria]

Shebo,
I think some surgeons just don't want to assume someone else's surgical problem or may know the other surgeon and not want to get involved or ? but I don't think it means you won't find someone who is extremely reputable and equally as well if not better versed in Thoracic issues to see you~

I've known of spine surgeons that have not wanted to see a patient after reviewing records for whatever reason. I don't think a reason was given just the denial to see the patient.

Too many patients that have had spine surgery have repeat spine surgery or more spine surgery so I would have to sincerely question that "policy." I doubt it actually exists however it might in this persons policy/protocols and procedure manuals though I'd be surprised if he even had that in the office. It would seem like if he truly didn't see patients that had previous spine surgeries or by other surgeons that would be a screening question done by whomever makes the appointments in the office and be stated "we dont' see patients that have had previous spine surgery".

Oh well not meaning to stir the pot but just thinking your time and mental energy is best utilized considering whomever else you might want to see and not letting this refusal to see you be a drag on your quest.

Keep looking. As Mark mentioned this oiffice may have done you a favor. Good luck w/future consults.

[dshobbies]

Shebo,

Sorry for the confusion - a referral is usually indicative of an HMO, at least to me. When my gp recommends another doctor, he always asks if I need a referral, which I don't. My recommendation was based on that assumption. It appears you have something closer to a PPO?

Whatever - good luck. I'm sure you'll find another excellent doctor, especially if looking outside your immediate area.

Dale

[Shebo]

Sorry for the confusion. Yes, I have a PPO and I guess you are correct. It was a recommendation not a referral.

This will force me to send my info out to all of the doctors mentioned earlier.

I have been holding out to see this local specialist for 6 months. When I called in October, the office said that he wouldn't even consider seeing me until it had been a year since my last surgery. So, I waited just to be denied.

I do believe everything happens for a reason. This has proven true so many times in my life. Just sometimes it is hard to accept especially when the facts seem so silly.

Theresa, Dr. Dickman at Barrow and the hospital for special surgeries sounds interesting. Has anyone else heard or had any experience with his or this facility? It is amazing that you have improved that much. I'm in pain management also. If you would like to share, I would love to here about any treatments that have helped.

[jsewell]

Shebo
I just went through some old posts and saw we were talking surgeon's with you back in Feb.
Have you had any luck yet? did you send your info out?
Just checking!
Judy

[Shebo]

Judy,
I did not send my info out yet. I wanted to wait until I got a new MRI. I just had an MRI and Myelogram done a couple of weeks ago. I was also holding out for the surgeon we talked about earlier in this thread. He is supposed to be a top thoracic spine surgeon in the country and he is local. I'm going to send my info out to the ones I talked about but I am disappointed.

Shebo

[jsewell]

I know you are disappointed. I have been many times with the medical community. I am sure you will find another surgeon to do the job and get you out of pain, hope it is soon.
judy

[Shebo]

The medical community is definitely frustrating. The bad part is there are several great thoracic spine surgeons in the area but they all belong to the same practice. They say they do revision surgery on their website. Hmmm.

How are you doing?

Shebo

[jsewell]

Shebo thanks for asking about me. Well I am still in a neck brace . It is a new one so something tells me my spine surgeon is no where near ready to get me out of this. I have one area of pain in my neck where there is a bump, i am wondering if that is the loose screws that i have at C4.
The rest of my fused spine is doing pretty well.
Now the lumbar area is a pain in the butt literally. It also goes down my legs, more prominent on the left side. My doc was going to take out the screws in L2 and put in cement as i fractured in surgery there.
But i think with the amount of pain i am having i also have lumbar stenosis going on. I have read up on it and i have all the symptoms. I'll discuss this with him in 2 weeks.

Sorry it was so long, i could add alll my other health problems, but i dont want to bore you to tears!!
judy