Friday, December 19, 2008

The hand SAGA part 2

Ok.. new eyes.. fresh perspective
I meet with the new Dr. He tries very hard to not react to any of my complaints. He examines me.. and makes it VERY clear that two months post op I should NOT have the pain and swelling I am having.. and wants to know how long I was in the cast after surgery.

cast??? what cast???

told him about the machine they sent me home with (CPM machine) and the PT they had me doing. He was not happy.. he put me in a non removable splint from my arm pit to my fingers. Wants me back in two weeks. He also is a doctor that really steers away from pain meds. Does not like using them. and really didn't like that I have been on them since APRIL.
I respect that.. and believe me... if i didn't have to take them I would be a very happy camper.

I left hopeful.. this guy listened to me.. he agreed that i shouldn't be having pain like this so long after surgery.. yeah someone IS going to fix it.
About day two in this splint I thought I was going to die.. the ache and the pain in my arm was amazing.. I tried to get ahold of the doctors office and the nurse.. yeah the nurse.. she told me to keep the arm ellivated..doing that
use ice .. uummm.. NO WAY..
that is horribly painful then she says.. well you can't take anything for it because pain medications just muddle your head. and well MRS. B I guess if it really hurts that bad then just take the thing off..
I asked to speak to the dr directly and she told me he was a really busy man.
I asked to leave a message for him to call me anyway.. that i didn't care what time it was..
no call.. imagine that.
So I called back the next morning and spoek to his receptionist. Told her I really did not want to talk to the nurse I needed to talk to him and she says " Well he is out of town until Friday.. I am surprised (nurses name) didn't tell you."
umm.. yep.. you got it.. REALLY torked off now.. and in more pain.

I told the receptionist that there was no way I could go for a week and a half like I was.. I needed to move my appiontment up.. SHe got it changed to the next tuesday.
Friday the doctor calls me really concerned that I was in as much pain as I was and tells me to get the splint off and he wanted me in sooner then the original two week appointment. I told him I would be in on Tuesday. He was happy with that.
SO I go in and he comes in with two interns looks through the records he had on me and says that the splint should have worked. He does not want me taking pain meds that it muddles the brain and tricks it so that the pain threshold is lower and some people take longer to heal from surgery and he would not let anyone do any more surgery and that he is releasing me from his care.
WHAT!!!!!!???????
I paid $80 office visit co-pays and whatever my insurance will not cover for him to hurt me more and then release me??? and tell me that basically I am a whimp!!??
I had to sit in the parking lot for a few minutes before i called my BF. I swear I was in the twilight zone..
The doctor that listened to me.. the one who said I should NOT be like this.. THe one who called me all concerned not 4 days earlier just released me???
She recommended that I call my regular dr...

No comments: