Many of you know I've been dealing with pretty severe back pain for almost a year now. I've been through several procedures in the past few months, and none of them have helped.

This past Tuesday afternoon, I had such a horrible flare up, I was literally almost screaming the pain was so bad. DH took me to my GP doc- he gave me a shot of Toradol (basically mega ibuprofen) and said if it didn't help the pain within 20 minutes that I should go to the emergency room. The pain kept getting worse...I was literally writhing in pain...DH took me to the emergency room...I couldn't walk, I couldn't stand...he took me in in a wheelchair.

They took me back into a room, put an IV in and decided to shoot me up with HUGE amounts of Valium...I have no idea why...

The ER doc came in a few minutes later to "examine" me. He basically yanked me to my feet and kept saying "YOU'VE GOT TO STAND UP OR I CAN'T EXAMINE YOU. STAND UP!" I did the best I could to stand up...my knees literally wouldn't support the weight of my body because putting any weight on my legs shot huge jolts of pain through my back. He proceeded to push down as hard as he could on the top of my head, which caused my knees to buckle underneath me and it hurt so fucking bad I just began bawling... he said "Well, it's OBVIOUSLY not your back...there shouldn't be ANY back pain when I push down on your head. That's a little trick we doctors use to see if people are faking." I was sitting on the gurney just sobbing and he grabbed each of my legs and straightened them out and pushed them up toward my head and was practically shouting at me, "WHAT HAPPENS AND HOW DOES IT FEEL WHEN I DO THIS?!" All I could say was "IT FUCKING HURTS!!!!" but he kept lifting my legs up one at a time.

He yanked me to my feet again and made me walk across the room and back...then he got up and just stared at me with this loathing look and said "Well, this seems fishy to me, I'm going to go review your file and call your GP. You claim you had an MRI done a few months ago, I'm going to make sure I review that too."

About 20 minutes later he came back and said, "well your story checks out. I called your doctor and he backed up your story. I'm going to give you some heavy duty pain medication (which I DIDN'T ask for).

I was already so doped up on Valium at this point (they'd shot me up with 20 milligrams) I was practically just drooling all over myself.

The nurse comes back in and begins administering copious amounts of dilaudid, which is about 20 times more powerful than morphine. It dulled the pain, but they didn't do any other exams like an x-ray or anything else. They shot me full of dope and practically pushed me out the door.

I'm so fucking angry and humiliated, all I want to do is just cry. No one should have to be treated like that. I understand doctors have to be careful about administering narcotic painkillers but I didn't even ASK for them, and frankly all I wanted was some kind of numbing lidocaine shot or something in my back to take away the pain, but I got treated like a fucking junkie. Doctors are supposed to fucking HELP people, not treat them like fucking trash.

I have no idea what to do to get through this. My back hurts so fucking bad and I'm feeling so low I don't know where to turn.

Thanks for listening.

Oh, I'm so sorry GLAJ... Back pain is just the most miserable pain to have to deal with. I'm sorry you're hurting and I'm sorry you were treated so horribly by the ER doctor. He sounds like he needs some serious work on his bedside manner.

I'm so, so, sorry. Some people simply have no business being in medicine. Who knows what kind of day (or night!) the doctor had experienced? NOTHING can justify his treatment of you, though!

Your primary care doctor was obviously hoping that ER could either do some diagnostic testing or could give you a referral to a specialist. Unfortunately, most ERs function on the "get 'em up, get 'em out" program.

When you're feeling better, contact me and I'll let you read my "funny" ER encounter. Right now, you'll probably just bust the computer.

Do you see a pain specialist?

And give me the doctor's name. I'll go beat the shit out of him for you.

~VOW

GLA, I'm soooo sorry you had to go through this. Your treatment in the ER is beyond reprehensible! I have 2 ruptured disc's in my neck and when it first happened I was basically treated the same way. Like a drug seeker and I too did not ask for drugs. They gave me a chest x-ray. What that was supposed to do, I never did figure out.

If I were you I would file a formal complaint with the hospital. Every hospital has a Patient Advocate. I hope you got his name. Even if you didn't they can figure it out from the time you were there. Has your GP referred you to a Spine Specialist or at the very least a Pain Management Specialist?

Please don't let that AH make you feel humiliated. You did NOTHING wrong. Sending hugs and hope your pain is under control soon. I know it can be exhausting.

The reason they gave you the valium was because it is often used as a skeletal muscle relaxant for spasms.

That guy's a jerk, plain and simple. A turd on a power trip.

Call an orthopedist. If you need to be referred, get your primary care doctor- the GP- to refer you to one!

that doc doesnt seem to have good bedside manners!!

Holy Hannah! Haughty bastard of a doctor! I have a friend who who had some pretty bad back issues while in her late 30's, had to walk with a cane, and you could see the pain in her countenance. She had some experimental type surgery where they entered her abdomen to get to the issue and it changed her life dramatically. I will see if I can get some info from her and pass it along to you. Meantime, crawl up that hole and accept my (((hug))).

First of all, what is this slimeball's name? Because I'm going to have to round up a posse and help him to truly "walk a mile" in your shoes.

Secondly, Friend of a Mo is right -- you need to make a formal complaint about this guy -- he was absolutely out of line.

Thirdly, I'm so sorry you went through this. This sort of betrayal by people we trust and pay to help us is beyond upsetting -- I'm seeing red right now.

Sigh, the only mitigating circumstance I can even think of is that he may have been VERY short on sleep as some hospitals give doctors (especially new doctors and residents) really abusive hours. But regardless -- he should be seriously slapped around.

I'm sure many doctors, especially ER doctors have been getting some heat over the number of Utahans addicted to pain pills. The good little morgbots see pain pills as something they can take that doesn't go against their precious WOW because they aren't specifically listed. So they can take pain pills without any twinges of conscience because the WOW doesn't say, "Thou shalt not partake of pain medication".

So here you have doctors who have been prescribing pain medications to all the good little morgbots in "Happy Valley" and then all of a sudden there is an announcement that Utah is one of the highest per capita abusers of pain medications in the country. Well now all those doctors are getting their hands slapped and they have to quell the tide of morgbots going in to get their fix.

I happen to know several morgbots who are heavily addicted to pain pills and their big excuse is back pain because it is the hardest to pinpoint and fix. So you go in with "real" back pain and the doctor you got to see had recently had his hands slapped by hospital administration, who recently had its hands slapped by the morg leadership, and he took it out on you thinking you were just another of those folks addicted to pain pills using back pain as an excuse.

Sorry you had to go through that. If the dumbass doctors wouldn't just hand out prescriptions like asprin this would not have happened.

I am actually scheduled for an additional MRI this afternoon (scheduled before this ER visit from hell even happened) to determine whether I'm going to need full-blown back surgery (spine doc says this is probably likely that I'll need it).

I'm seriously half tempted to contact an attorney. I'm writing a letter to the ER administrator right now, but I'm sure it won't do much good. I don't know what else to do.

You can also contact the American Medical Association to file a formal complaint -- I believe.

Make a formal complaint and use quotation marks, with the AMA. They review the complaints monthly and have the power to suspend doctors from practice.

His comments were disrespectful and, IMHO, a violation of your civil rights. Did he know you're gay? It could have been an expression of disapproval for your lifestyle. If you think that's the case, you can also file a complaint of discrimination with the EEO.

Good luck with your condition. Everyone has to be their own diagnostician these days. I always recommend acupuncture for pain relief and you may have already tried that.

Best

Anagrammy

I know you're probably sick of seeing docs and getting different opinions, but these two guys are the bomb.

Richard Schwartz and Jim Pingree. They're at St. Mark's.

1-888-833-0601

One of my best friends was their P.A. for many years and another good friend works the front office. I can see about getting you into see one of them?

Let me know.

Erin

File a complaint. Can't hurt and he might be inspired to watch his manners. Maybe you have heard the joke about St. Peter calling for a shrink to see God. When the shrink asked what the problem was Peter said, "God is suffereing from delusions of grandeur. He thinks he is a doctor."

Hospitals are the most miserable places on Earth, and they all have at least one psycho-sadist Doctor and Nurse Ratched. After my accident, they nearly killed me shooting me up with Demerol (which it turns out I'm allergic to), and blaming my condition on my "past chronic drug abuse. (I've never even smoked a joint in my life).

I wish I could take the pain away. I wish I could make you whole and healthy again. ( I wish I could bring off a black fur evening wrap and heels, but I digress..) All I can offer you is a link to take your mind off the pain, and the hope that one day you'll be healthy enough to walk back into that hospital and kick Dr. Asshole in the nards.

http://poorlydressed.failblog.org/

Holy cats!

I wish I had some advice to give, but I don't. My experiences with hospitals have been less then stellar...birth of my oldest in particular. That's a story for another day, though.

I really hope you can figure out what's going on...hopefully the MRI will have some clues.

Cyber hugs to you GLAJ.....

Glad to hear your seeing a Spine Specialist too. I hope they can figure out what's going on soon. I have the back surgery looming too and I know how scary that can be to contemplate.

When you send your letter to the ER Administrator, also CC a copy to the Patient Advocate. Every hospital is supposed to have them and they deal with this kind of thing all the time. They are there for the Patient. I would also CC it to the head of the hospital. I would make as much noise as I could, with as many people in authority as there are, but I'm a bitch like that, lol

Sorry buddy. I know how you feel. ER docs can be total dicks about pain without an obvious visible cause. I get extra screwed because I have terrible tachycardia, and if you show up in the ER saying you have terrible pain in your back, and then your resting heart-rate shows up at 130, they assume you're spun out.

Let us know how the MRI goes later. What sort of surgery would you be looking at?

I definitely agree with those that say file a complaint. This doc needs to be knocked down a peg or two. Also, if you ever have to go in again, know that just because they have an MD does NOT mean they can treat you that way. GET LOUD! Demand respect! Tell them to review the file first. Good grief - this is totally uncalled for - major asshole. If you are so inclined, please let us know which hospital this took place at so we can avoid it. Better yet, the Doc's name also so if any of us ever end up in the same ER we can refuse service from him.

Fucking asshole.

this reaction. His cause is undiagnosed and obscure, and he seems to not react to small amounts of drugs. They are making big noises in our area about cutting down on abuse too, and apparently the best way to do that is to deny relief to those who actually suffer.

It's crazy in this age that they can't measure pain, or offer anything but various 'better' forms of opium. When people get all amazed about the progress in medical science, I wish they could explain that. Pain is kind of basic.

One thing in our favor is age. Once you are ancient, people are less likely to think the worst apparently. So hang in there and you'll get old too!

edit to add:
Oh yeah, this is why I always go into the dr's office with him. I've sat though prostate exams a few times just to keep the doctors on their best behavior.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/04/2011 01:57PM by Heresy.

Maybe it's a good idea to carry a paper with a brief medical history outline, including contact info of your GP and/or specialist who is treating you for a chronic or recurring condition. Include a list of your meds too. Perhaps you could also have a letter from your primary medical caregiver verifying your diagnoses and meds.

This could perhaps give any new MD, especially in an ER situation, some background to assure them you are not drug-seeking.

Too bad that is necessary but they do have to be responsible for what Rx's they hand out. Unfortunately, as you say, this means they sometimes treat regular folks badly. That's not an excuse, just a possible explanation, but yeah, they should be called on it.

What really raises the red flag for them is when someone they don't know comes in and requests major painkillers, especially by name! That's where the medical records come in handy if you have them to give. And yeah, the MD should check your records first before making unfounded assumptions. Sheesh!

I agree that we should all stand up for ourselves to the max and not submit to such treatment, under any circumstances. It's hard when you're not feeling well, though, especially if you're in great pain. That's where it's great to have a partner present who can be your advocate if necessary.

I had no idea about how bad back pain can be until I wrenched my back so badly that I couldn't sleep well at all nor move without pain. This went on for months, although it did eventually resolve. So I totally get where you're coming from. :-(

I've learned to be very proactive over the years in asking M.D.'s for my preferred treatment or medicine. Many times I get it, and sometimes not, but at least they'll discuss it with you.

I hope that your spine specialist can help you.

Actually, the Patient Ombudsman can REALLY help. These people are outfitted with gigantic red-tape-snipping scissors, and they can definitely make people bleed.

I made a complaint years ago at a VERY huge, prestigious hospital, and afterwards, I had the doctor and the nurses kissing my butt later.

~VOW

GLAJ - You don't have to apologize for feeling pain and expressing it. I'm sure you're right that the MD's reaction was likely due to him wrongly categorizing you as drug-seeking. The fact that you didn't specifically request drugs doesn't enter into it as the MD is not thinking straight at the point s/he is reacting with anger or frustration and so logic and facts don't enter into it, unfortunately.

I would definitely file a complaint, with the hospital and the licensing body. Maybe you're right and not much will be done but they can't forever duck out of continued reports about the same issue and/or involving the same MD. Who knows, you may be pleasantly surprised at their reaction as that is no way for anyone to be treated, no matter the circumstances. So what if you _were_ asking for drugs. First, you have good reason for that and second, his treatment of you should focus on the medical issue and his aim should ideally be to alleviate your suffering not add to it.

I missed the early posts about your back pain and so don't know/recall what the original injury (if any) was. Can you say it again? And also, have you ever been given a firm diagnosis by anyone? If you can get a clear idea of the likely cause and the most reasonable diagnosis, specifically, that's half the battle right there.

I know you've tried narcotics and other painkillers. What helps? What doesn't? I know you've had imaging (MRI etc). Does any of the imaging show any anatomical cause of the pain? Have any of the injections ever helped? What other imaging have you had? What abnormalities have been found, if any? Which specialists have you seen? Have you had any other treatment (physio etc?) What hurts? What helps?

These are all the basic factors you need to outline to any new MD and hopefully at least one of your caregivers knows all this info too.

I wouldn't even think of having surgery without a firm diagnosis, a comprehensive list of pros and cons with and without surgery, a chance over 50% of surgery having a good outcome (i.e., cure, less pain, etc), a clear idea of possible adverse effects (surgery can also create problems, including even more pain than before - not desirable) and stated goals as to what the purpose of the surgery is and what the expected or hoped for outcome is. Then you weigh the pros and cons and only go for surgery if there is a majority likelihood that it will be beneficial. Usually, absent an identified disc or other focal anatomical abnormality there are no guarantees that surgery will be helpful and every chance that between surgical pain and subsequent scarring causing pain you will be worse off after surgery.

I work with a spine specialist. That makes me no kind of an expert, at all. But I do know the guidelines within which he works and the advice he generally gives his patients. Unless there is a major, new, localized disc herniation or other structural abnormality, identified on imaging and verified clinically, they do not usually move immediately to surgery. In fact, many disc herniations self-heal in time.

Generally, if back pain is non-focal, i.e., not restricted to a small area with an anatomical abnormality demonstrated on imaging, non-surgical options are considered, at least first, as the more generalized the pain the less likely that surgery will alleviate all or any of the pain (and can make things worse).

Obviously, everyone needs to see an MD, preferably one highly experienced in the type of problem one has. It's usually a case of nailing down a diagnosis first and ruling in or out all the likely contributors to the pain. The MD I work with hunts down the "pain generator" by means of x-ray, CT or MRI scans and/or local injections that are "diagnostic" and hopefully "therapeutic". The response to the injections helps to rule in or out various diagnoses.

Once he knows the precise diagnosis, if it's possible to isolate, he determines the course of treatment.

For many, it consists of the local anesthetic and steroid injections (which I think you've had - was there a positive outcome ever?) as well as regular pain meds. He also often recommends physio and exercise, even though that sounds unappealing when one is in pain. Unexpectedly though, exercise can help to decrease back pain, if done correctly and at least initially under expert advice and supervision. Aerobic exercise and core strengthening help as does swimming, which can strengthen the muscles while you are non-weightbearing, which is a plus/plus for the back muscles.

To have surgery without first having a firm diagnosis and having a condition which is likely to respond to surgery is not something to entertain lightly, as I'm sure you're aware. It's not enough to have tried a lot of other things and to try surgery as a desperate last resort. It will likely not help in many cases and can often make things worse, with postsurgical pain adding to the existing pain and also all the complications that scarring can bring.

If it's compression fractures or disc herniation that isn't clearing up, those are specific issues, demonstrated on imaging, that can potentially be well treated by surgical procedures.

First step - get the diagnosis. Next - find the right specialist. Third - thoroughly discuss the condition and the treatment options and all the pros and cons of each. If there is any alternative to surgery, that could be the way to go. For many patients, non-surgical treatment combos work well, including physio, exercises, core strengthening, swimming, massage, regular pain meds and anything else the MD advises.

As for that stupid ER MD, try practicing one of the four agreements - the one that says something like it's not about you, it's all about him. Maybe that will chase away the feelings of humiliation (which are non-therapeutic I know!) The fact that you are taking action should infuse you with good vibes about your strength of character.

Hope this helps. Hope you feel better soon.

****Not meant to be medical advice. Especially not the dreaded medical-advice-over-the-internet!

When I had my MRI done earlier this year, it was discovered that I have two bulging discs, two herneated discs, and a mild case of spina bifida, which is congenital.

Since I was diagnosed, I have been working with a spinal/pain management clinic and undergone several procedures- lidocaine injections, facet injections (which target the nerves in the spine), and radiofrequency treatment (which involves a needle going into the spine and burning off the nerve endings that are believed to be causing the pain.)

I have been on a medication regimen which I have followed explicitly. I am very cautious about narcotics, because more than a few people in my family have become addicts, and my aunt even died of an overdose of Percocet and Oxycontin. My medications are monitored VERY closely.

I have another MRI scheduled at 5:00pm today which should indicate whether I will need to be seen by a neurosurgeon. If that's the case, the neurosurgeon will make the determination whether or not I will need to undergo a discectomy to relieve the pressure on the nerves of my spine.

At this point, I have exhausted all the preliminary options, and surgery seems to be the next step. Discectomies have seemed to really help most patients, but it will involve a 4-6 week recovery time followed by six months of physical therapy. At this point though, I'm willing to try anything.

GLAJ I had horrible lower back pain for a couple of years, til I found a little device called a 'sacro wedgie'. I know, very strange name, but it worked. Just google 'sacro wedgie' and you should be able to find their website so you can check it out. Hope you're able find some relief soon, because I know how damn painful back pain can be.

Sorry, I know a little about pain, having quad bypass surgery last Nov. Still have a little pain when I cough or sneeze. Hope you fee better. I would have died in pain without oxycoten....I feel for you and know it is hard to even breath, hand in there. May the atheist God look over you.

Dude!! Fucking get better already. We need you around here.

Ron

I got profiled in the ER once too. But they never treated me for the worst headache of my life.

I also have back problems and neck...disc stuff.

People don't understand unless it becomes part of there life.

Try to find a good pain management specialist and seek out your own answers online or anywhere else you can find information.

I have started to tell people let me whack your spine with a baseball bat and then I will tell you to suck it up.

The ER does see lots of addicts, but in my opinion it's still no reason to mistreat a patient.
Pain is hard for some to see. But when it's coming from your spine it's non stop and life and soul sucking.

What a jerk. You deserve better than that. He needs to be checked.

I hope you feel better soon. Back pain sucks.

Or do I need to do it?

Dude that really stinks. I'm wishing you well. That works better than praying right?

Stunted

I'd be interested in knowing the name, too, as I used to type for all the SLC area hospitals. I'm really not impressed with the medical community in general since I do their work.

My ex went through this kind of excruciating back pain--and I had him in the ER a few times. He couldn't walk either. All he could do is lay down. They tried everything--injections, physical therapy, blah, blah, blah--and he finally had surgery with some guy from Cottonwood Hospital. Reed Fogg. That is who it was. He was a different person after the surgery. THEN he twisted wrong 3 months after his first surgery and ended up having another surgery. That was 16 years ago (just before we separated). He still has to be careful what he does--but he doesn't have the pain anymore.

I know having surgery is a leap, but it is the only thing that helped him once he got to your level of pain.

AND, yep, I type ERs a lot and there are a lot of pain medication drug seekers--but THERE IS NO EXCUSE for how you were treated. I would DEFINITELY complain. MOST DEFINITELY.

are in an ER several times a week. This guy was WAY OUT OF LINE.

he just found out that he has a tumor along his spine that has been giving him all this pain!! now he has to have surgery....he may become a quadriplegic if he doesnt have the surgery!... i hope you dont have anything like that! good luck GLAJ!!!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/04/2011 03:08PM by bignevermo.

What the hell kind of "doctor" treats someone this way?! He should be disciplined for that kind of behavior! Preferably by sewing his mouth to his own ass.

second, file a complaint about that doctor. That is ridiculous. Third, is it time for a specialist???????? Or a second opinion???

My name is GayLayAleJesus. I am writing this letter to you because I don't know where else to turn to address the horrific treatment I endured at the hands of your emergency room clinician, Dr. Asshole, MD, on Tuesday evening, August 2, 2011. I have been unsuccessful in obtaining any information to contact your patient advocate or ombudsman, but was given your name and email address as a contact for this istuation. I WOULD LIKE THIS EMAIL FORWARDED TO THE XXXX HOSPITAL PATIENT ADVOCATE OR OMBUDSMAN.

This is the second time for unrelated issues that I have been treated like utter trash in your emergency department, and I'm not going to stand for it again, and no one else should have to stand for it either when they come into your hospital needing legitimate medical attention.

I came into the XXXX emergency room on Tuesday evening, August 2nd, 2011 with my husband, Mr.GLAJ, for such crippling and acute back pain, I couldn't stand, I couldn't sit, all I could do was writhe and try in vain to find a position that would give me some relief. The pain was so bad, I had begun throwing up in the parking lot of the hospital before my husband brought me in in a wheelchair and by the time I came in, I was completely drenched in sweat. I had just been to see my regular medical professional, Dr. Awesome, who works at the XXX Clinic next to the hospital. At his office, I was given excellent and professional care, as I always do whenever I go there. I was given a shot of Toradol to help relieve the pain, which did absolutely nothing. Dr. Awesome recommended that if the Toradol didn't help, I should go over to the ER at XXX hospital for additional assistance, which after about 30 minutes I did, because the pain was becoming more and more intolerable.

To provide you some background into my medical history, I am currently being treated for chronic back pain and have been for nearly a year now by Dr. Spinal Specialist, MD, and Spinal Nurse, APRN, at the XXX clinic in Provo, Utah. I had an MRI done earlier this year that revealed two bulging discs, 2 herneated discs, as well as a congenital canal in my lower spine (spina bifida). I have been on a pain management regimen, and have never deviated from it, or abused my pain medication in any way. In the past few months, I have undergone lidocaine injections into my spine, facet injections and two radiofrequency treatments to help relieve my pain. So far, none of it has helped. I am scheduled for an additional MRI scan this afternoon, August 4, 2011 at XXXX hospital to determine whether I am going to need to see a neurosurgeon for full-blown back surgery. This was scheduled prior to my emergency room visit on Tuesday. You may check my records to verify this.

So you are aware of my further recent medical history, earlier this year, I also had my gallbladder removed at YYYY Hospital by Dr. Surgeon after several bouts in the ER there from excruciating gallbladder attacks. I underwent a HIDA scan because the ultrasound and CT scan I received showed no stones in my gallbladder. The HIDA scan results showed that my gallbladder was only functioning at 18%. I was then referred to one of the general surgeons at YYYY Hospital. For each visit to the ER at YYYY Hospital, I was treated with nothing but the utmost professionalism, respect and kindness. The entire Emergency Department staff at YYYY very genuinely care about the patients they treat. I only hope someday the staff at XXXX will learn to do the same thing. Each visit to the YYYY ER for the gallbladder attacks I was given IV painkillers, and a "G.I. cocktail" which consisted of viscous lidocaine, a liquid antacid and liquid Benadryl but after my fourth visit they eventually took me to surgery to remove my gallbladder, just a few days before my appointment with the surgeon. If you look through my records, you will also be able to verify this. Furthermore, following my surgery, I was diagnosed with a kidney stone as well, and underwent pain treatment for that as well.

When I came into your emergency department on Tuesday, I was checked in, and taken back to a room. A male EMT came into the room and very rudely explained he was going to put an IV in my arm. My entire body was contorted and I had a hard time lying still and an even more difficult time breathing due to the amount of pain I was in. He handled me very roughly to get the IV in, the entire time belittling me and practically yelling at me.

After the IV was in, the nurse came in and announced that the doctor had ordered ten milligrams of Valium to be pushed into my IV. I asked her why she was giving me Valium and she said it would help relax my muscles. It failed to do so, so per the doctor's orders, I was given ten more milligrams.

After a few minutes, Dr. Asshole came into the room and introduced himself, and asked me why I was there. I told him I was experiencing horrific pain in my lower back, with shooting pain down my right buttock into my right thigh. He demanded that I stand up so he could examine me. By this time, the pain was so bad I couldn't stand without holding onto the gurney to support myself. He kept shouting at me to stand up straight, which I had a very difficult time doing. He proceeded to push down as hard as he could on top of my head, which caused my knees to buckle underneath me and shot waves of pain through my lower back and into my leg. I crumpled onto the gurney and began crying because the pain was so horrible. He practically laughed in my face and said that it couldn't possibly be something wrong with my back because pushing down on my head shouldn't cause any pain at all, and that he had done that as a typical "trick" doctors use to see if the patient is faking. It was the fact that he pushed so hard when I could already barely stand that it caused my legs to fail me, which in turn caused the pain. He then proceeded to straighten my legs out and lift them, which caused even further pain, and all he could do is shout, "WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I DO THIS???" AllI could say is "IT HURTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" He kept berating me about what EXACTLY was happening in my back when he lifted my legs. He then practically yanked me up to my feet again and demanded that I walk across the room, which I did with much difficulty.

He said I could lay back down, and that he was going to go comb through my medical history, and verify with my primary care clinician, Dr. Awesome, what was going on. He demanded to know whether I had had a CT scan or an MRI that corroborated the medical history I gave him. I told him I had, and that it was done at an IHC facility (ironically, XXXX Hospital) so he could look it up in my records, and ensure I was telling the truth.

I want to make it CRYSTAL CLEAR that I NEVER asked for pain medication or sedatives from Dr. Asshole. NOT ONCE. About ten minutes later he returned and sheepishly told me that he had verified in my medical record that I was telling the truth, then came up with a bunch of excuses about having been audited by the DEA twice in the recent past, and used that to try and justify his horrible treatment of me. THE FACT THAT HE HAD BEEN AUDITED IS NOT MY PROBLEM. He then ordered the nurse to pump me full of the painkiller Dilaudid, which again, I NEVER ASKED FOR. He didn't bother ordering any other tests, or further examinations. He pumped me full of dope and sent me home. By the time I left, I was barely conscious due to the amount of Valium and Dilaudid I was given.

I understand better than anyone that doctors have to be VERY cautious about giving their patients narcotic painkillers, but that is absolutely no excuse for this miserable doctor to treat me like some heroin junkie that came in off the street faking an injury to get a "fix". He didn't even bother to ASK ME or CHECK ON my past medical history before making his judgment that I am a painkiller addict. I had absolutely no reason to come in trying to get narcotics, as I already have a prescription for Percocet from my spine/pain management specialist that is VERY CLOSELY MONITORED. If all I wanted to do was get high, I could have saved a very expensive emergency room bill and instead taken 20 of my percocet and I'm sure it would have done the same job. I came to the hospital because I needed help. I needed some kind of relief and resolution for my pain, not to be treated like a liar and a junkie just because some doctor decides I'm faking my pain without even bothering consulting my medical record beforehand. I WANTED AND NEEDED HELP, AND ALL I GOT WAS HUMILIATED, CALLED A LIAR, THEN PUMPED FULL OF DRUGS, MADE TO FEEL LIKE A COMPLETEL LOWLIFE, THEN SENT ON MY WAY.

Since this incident I haven't been able to sleep for more than an hour at a time without waking up with horrible anxiety attacks and nightmares and I'm so depressed, all I want to do is die. I am still in horrific amounts of pain, but what's worse is the ABJECT HUMILIATION I feel from the way I was treated by that unprofessional, uncaring "physician" in your emergency department. There is absolutely no excuse or justification for that kind of behavior toward ANYONE, no matter what the situation. I HAVE DONE MY DUE DILIGENCE with regard to my medical treatment for my back as evidenced by my medical history.

I don't know whether I was treated this way because I am openly gay and came in with my husband, or if this doctor habitually treats his patients this way for no reason. What I do know is I have never been treated so poorly by any medical professional in my entire life, except for in your emergency department. I guess I have been living under the naive and deluded assumption that doctors and other medical staff are there to help and heal people, not to belittle and humiliate them and treat them like drug addicts and liars. So much for the Hippocratic oath.

I still have not decided how I want to proceed with this situation, but I do know one thing- I am not going to just let this go. This doctor should not be allowed to practice medicine in your hospital or anywhere else if he treats people the way he treated me. It's very possible I am going to begin speaking to an attorney about possible legal action against this doctor and your hospital. One thing is for certain- I will be filing a formal complaint with the American Medical Association to ensure this doctor cannot continue to mistreat and belittle his patients.

Thank you for your time.

GayLayAleJesus



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 08/04/2011 03:46PM by GayLayAleJesus.

the hospitals patient advocate. Google that shit if you have to.... hang in there Mikey (((HUGS)))

*THUNDEROUS STANDING OVATION*

I bow meekly in your presence.

~VOW

Oh GLAJ, I'm so sorry. I hope all goes well for you. My aunt Jeannie has had experience with severe back pain as well, and wants to know if you have been checked for sciatica.

Sorry to hear that GLAJ. Piper speaks of you and your story often so I have been somewhat informed of what you have been going through.

It is hard to go from doctor to doctor with no resolve, Piper has played that game for a while. I find myself feeling some doctors are not there to care, just take up time. Bottom line is that you do not deserve to be treated like this. You are in enough pain that more pain should not be given by the doctor.

I feel for you and hope you find relief soon. You are in the Piper's thoughts.

My doctor gave me too much dilantin. It was his fault. I went to the emergency room. He would not pay for the damages.

Several books out there talk about how American medicine is killing people. It is not set up well. Hospitals are dangerous. Somebody came up with a figure as high as 300, the number of people that are being killed every day in hospitals. That actual number is probably lower, but it is still very high. I don't know what other advice to give you. When I was in the hospital, the hospital phone would not let me reach my parents to tell them what had happened, so I threw the phone against the wall.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/04/2011 04:00PM by behindcurtain.

Sounds like you are in desperate need of support from people that have been thought what you are going through.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/04/2011 04:01PM by MJ.

I have deduced from your post that this is a Intermountain Healt Care facility. Somewhere here in the morridor. Please don't be shy and tell us which one and which doc specifically, they deserve no courtesy and you could save some of us from a similar fate. Just sayin'.

Great letter! I hope they do something about this and if they don't, I hope you pursue speaking to a lawyer. Good luck this afternoon with your MRI.

You gotta get this fixed, and as a guy who has had three disk surgeries I can tell you that it is pointless to see a GP or physical therapist about this. I have found that ONLY a neurosurgeon will know what in the hell he or she is doing in this case. It's as if the right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing, and for some reason the word never gets out to regular GPs that back pain is caused by things such as herniated disks. I have the pain all over again just reading your post. But the good side is that, three surgeries later on three separate disks, I now have a pain-free life and can do all kinds of work, heavy lifting, and exercise. Back surgery, particularly for disk repair (usually minimally invasive) does NOT necessarily mean some kind of limited lifestyle.

Incidentally, I was once hauled off by ambulance from a campground during a family camping trip, which was perhaps the most humiliating experience of my life. I was medevaced to a military hospital in Italy while the family had to stay behind in the campground. Then once at the military hospital I was treated just like you were.

Planning revenge on her ex-husband was what lead to Sue Grafton creating The A is for Murder series of novels starring Kinsey Millhone.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinsey_Millhone