Did He Lie Again?
By Sharon
@simone10 (54180)
Louisville, Kentucky
December 26, 2015 6:42am CST
Well, I went to the rheumatologist on the 22nd for a follow up and to get the results of my MRI that was done on my lower back. Some of you may remember that this doctor is a bit of a quack and couldn't even read an MRI report I had done on my hip several years ago. I have had several doctors tell me I have rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis in my hip. He says I don't have either, that all I have is fibromyalgia.
Anyway, I had to remind him of the MRI at the end of the visit. All he said was, there was something 'tiny' that showed up but nothing to worry about or that would cause me pain, there was no nerve infringement and that everything was just incidental. There was no disc herniation or rupture. Everything I have been feeling in my back and legs is fibromyalgia. I had a funny feeling about the way he skirted around my questions so when I left, I went right down the street to the imaging center and requested a copy of the MRI report.
I am not a doctor but I feel like he didn't tell me the whole truth. Here is what the findings were:
*L4-L5 has mild ligamentous thickening.
*L5-S1 has a tiny left paracentral disc protrusion and osteophyte. Slight contrast with left S1 nerve root.
*Impression: tiny central disc herniation at L5-S1. Slight effacement of the left S1 nerve root.
Now, like I said, I am no doctor but it looks like I have a small or tiny herniated disc and it is pressing slightly on the nerve. Why wouldn't he tell me this? Granted, it may not be anything major or anything that needs surgery but it would explain the back pain and the numbness I have been having.
I will be following up with a neurologist after the first of the year. Unfortunately I am stuck with this doctor for a while as there are only 3 rheumatologists in my area and they are not accepting any new medicaid patients right now. Maybe after the first of the year, I might be able to get in to see someone else.
24 people like this
21 responses
@GreatMartin (23670)
• Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
26 Dec 15
A 'gimmick' we use to get a second opinion--go to the ER!!
3 people like this
@simone10 (54180)
• Louisville, Kentucky
27 Dec 15
@GreatMartin @marlina My insurance won't pay for me to go to the ER unless it is an emergency.
1 person likes this
@GreatMartin (23670)
• Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
28 Dec 15
@simone10 You are in pain--what's more of an emergency than that??? Let them find out what is causing the pain!
1 person likes this
@silvermist (19701)
• India
26 Dec 15
@simone10 We have a doctor who is very reluctant do the necessary tests.If at all we insist and the test is done,he will keep saying there is nothing wrong.Then why the symptoms?We had to cosult the lab technician who informed us what is wrong.Now we are consulting a different doctor.
3 people like this
@simone10 (54180)
• Louisville, Kentucky
27 Dec 15
@silvermist He sounds similar to my doctor. I almost begged for an MRI and he kept holding off until I went in to see him with my brother present. Then he finally ordered it for me and now he isn't telling me the whole truth.
@TiarasOceanView (70020)
• United States
26 Dec 15
That doc sounds extremely dubious yet I know you are stuck with him for now.
Good you had the idea to go get your MRI.
I pray you will be able to get in with some other doc on that Medicaid soon friend.
I also pray that something will give and that the pain will ease a bit at least.
2 people like this
@TiarasOceanView (70020)
• United States
27 Dec 15
@simone10 I do hope so Sharon. It is really atrocious the way you cant get the care you need.
1 person likes this
@simone10 (54180)
• Louisville, Kentucky
2 Jan 16
@TiarasOceanView I agree but I guess that's what happens in a small town. What gets me is that this doctor is treating other people who have no clue and are believing everything he says.
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23998)
• United Kingdom
26 Dec 15
It certainly would account for your back pain. It quite clearly tells you that if it is in the report but then he does not sound particularly caring. You could always seek a physio appointment so they could show you some exercises to do to strengthen the muscles in your back?
3 people like this
@simone10 (54180)
• Louisville, Kentucky
27 Dec 15
@garymarsh6 @deborahDiane Yes, he is either uncaring or doesn't want to prove me right. I kept telling him that something was wrong with my back and that it wasn't fibromyalgia yet he insisted that it was. I think that is why he didn't tell me everything the report said. Little did he know that I would go and get a copy for myself. When I go back to see my primary care doctor, I am going to ask if physical therapy would help.
@DeborahDiane (40844)
• Laguna Woods, California
27 Dec 15
I think that is a great idea ... suggesting she get a physio appointment.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
26 Dec 15
Have you asked your other doctor (GP) to help you get a new guy for this? My doctor will get me what ever I want and your GP can get you in as a favor...Good luck.
2 people like this
@simone10 (54180)
• Louisville, Kentucky
27 Dec 15
@PainsOnSlate Yeah but she is kind of stuck between a rock and a hard spot right now.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
27 Dec 15
@simone10 I don't think I like your GP either. But i understand you will have to wait.
1 person likes this
@ElizabethWallace (12069)
• United States
26 Dec 15
Changing doctors if you do not trust the one you have sounds like a good plan. Good luck with that!
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40844)
• Laguna Woods, California
27 Dec 15
I agree that people should change doctors if they do not trust the one they have.
2 people like this
@simone10 (54180)
• Louisville, Kentucky
27 Dec 15
@ElizabethWallace @DeborahDiane I can't change doctors right now. There are only a few rheumatologists in our area and they aren't accepting medicaid patients right now. But, as soon as I can, I will be changing doctors.
1 person likes this
@ElizabethWallace (12069)
• United States
27 Dec 15
@simone10 Good luck with that. Having the right doctor will make all the difference.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169452)
• United States
27 Dec 15
I hope you do get someone new, soon. Meanwhile, you can research the L5-S1 for yourself, you are smart and it will let you speak intelligently with medical staff.
2 people like this
@simone10 (54180)
• Louisville, Kentucky
27 Dec 15
I have read up on it online just so I would know if this was something he should have told me or not. I am going to see a neurologist and see what my options are. Since it is 'tiny', there may not be anything to do right now but since it is pressing on a nerve, that might need to be taken care of.
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
26 Dec 15
It might be worth driving a little farther afield. He obviously is not going to of any use to you.
2 people like this
@simone10 (54180)
• Louisville, Kentucky
27 Dec 15
No, he really isn't any use at all. I can't really go out of town because it's about 80 miles away and my brother would have to take me and he can't take time off from work anytime soon. The new management company just took over and he doesn't have any time built up as it had to start all over again with the new company.
1 person likes this
@whiteream (8567)
• United States
26 Dec 15
I really do wish you would be able to find another doctor. I worry about you with this. Because my mother went to four different doctor before they found out what was really going on with her. God Bless
2 people like this
@Rollo1 (16676)
• Boston, Massachusetts
27 Dec 15
The rheumatologist doesn't treat disc problems such as herniation, so he's not going to be interested in those results. He treats fibromyalgia, so that's what you have based on his focus. I have two herniated discs and I can say that they do cause pain to a varying degree. I have never seen anyone word it "tiny herniation" before. I don't know if that nerve impingement is enough to cause your symptoms, but L5-S1 would definitely cause symptoms down the leg and even into the foot. I would take the MRI to a neurologist for an opinion and not rely on the rheumatologist for that.
1 person likes this
@simone10 (54180)
• Louisville, Kentucky
28 Dec 15
I knew that he wouldn't be able to treat me for any problems with my back but he kept saying that my back problems were caused by fibromyalgia. He didn't give me the full details of the report and he didn't suggest I see a neurologist. I'm sure the herniation is not big or bad enough for surgery but I need to know if it is causing the numbness in my legs and feet and the pain down my left leg. I'm going to call to see if I can see a neurologist after New years.
1 person likes this
@Carmelanirel2 (8085)
• United States
27 Dec 15
I hope so, because I think you need a second opinion.
1 person likes this
@Carmelanirel2 (8085)
• United States
27 Dec 15
@simone10 I hope you don't need surgery, but if that is what it takes, then I hope you not only find a doctor who says you need it, but the one doing it is a really good doctor.
1 person likes this
@simone10 (54180)
• Louisville, Kentucky
2 Jan 16
@Carmelanirel2 I doubt that I will have to have surgery. The herniated disc is tiny according to the report but it is touching on a nerve.
1 person likes this
@lokisdad (4226)
• United States
2 Jan 16
You are right some doctors make me wonder where they get their degrees lol. I think that saying fibromyalgia for him was mostly because they don't know what causes the pain and since he couldn't explain it then why not say its an unexplainable illness lol. Sorry my wife had a doc like that not really bright and dismissive she used to call him dr.DoLittle because that is what he did do little as a doctor.
1 person likes this
@simone10 (54180)
• Louisville, Kentucky
2 Jan 16
I like the name, DoLittle...lol. And I agree, he doesn't know what's causing the problems and wants to blame it all on fibromyalgia. the thing is, I have rheumatoid arthritis which has been confirmed by 3 doctors but he doesn't think I have it.
1 person likes this
@lokisdad (4226)
• United States
2 Jan 16
@simone10 I would just go with the majority of the doctors diagnosis which in all honesty sounds like the most reasonable culprit and yes your pcp until you can change him out for another one who actually isn't part of the dolittle practice.When I first heard the name I thought she was being serious and I said his name is really do little like the movie? She said no but it should be I laughed and til this day when we talk about him we refer to him by that name . You hear it and say it so often that when she would call the office she would have to really stop and think before saying the wrong name. He I think left the practice
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40844)
• Laguna Woods, California
27 Dec 15
I am so glad that you will be seeing a neurologist after the first of the year. Seeing more doctors is always a good idea when you are in pain.
1 person likes this
