[kirby777]

Hi-
After the horrific pdoc appt, I went to the walk in @ my gp's office. I could barely walk/move, due to back strain. I walk in the exam room and MD says what happened? I said "I think it is from bathing my dog". I can flex at my waist 5 degress at most, feel like some giant hant is crushing my pelvis. MD says....without even touching me, no exam, no testing of reflexes, sensations, NOTHING. "You need to go to the ER". AHH NO. I said "No , why?". "It could be XYZ....". I said "PLEASE just treat me like a person w/ sever back pain, I feel better today than yesterday". UGGHH. We argue some more.

Why no exam?? If she really thought it was a spinal cord injury, should she not test certain things????

Please note I could not get an appt. w/ GP for months....they said just come into to the walk-in.

SUB-Par medical care.

[Nobodyandnothing]

Kirby, I don't think it was subpar care that was driving your gp's behavior. I think it is a result of fear of liability. People sue for every little thing and your doc's med mal insurer has strict guidelines that must be followed to be insured. Please lay the guilt where it rightly belongs, our litigious society. ps, I hope you went to the ER to get relief for you back pain.

[kirby777]

Originally Posted by Nobodyandnothing

Kirby, I don't think it was subpar care that was driving your gp's behavior. I think it is a result of fear of liability. People sue for every little thing and your doc's med mal insurer has strict guidelines that must be followed to be insured. Please lay the guilt where it rightly belongs, our litigious society. ps, I hope you went to the ER to get relief for you back pain.

Hi Nobodyandnothing-

I understand that physicians do A LOT of tests to avoid malpractice, and I understand their medmal providers give them guidelines.

What I am speaking of is there was NO EXAM, NO TOUCHING, nothing. If she would have tsted my patellar tendon reflex and I was without one...OK more is needed...If I had no sensation lin my lower limbs, because she tested that---OK more is needed. If I did not explain a preceeding event..lifting a 66 lb dog and I am <95 lbs --OK. But I am not the first person to walk in there w/ back pain and will not be the last.

Perhaps it made me angry because of my terrible pdoc appt.

Thanks for your response.

[ECHOES]

You went to the doctor and the medical advice for you was that you needed immediate care, and to go to the ER. I think that is very caring and no subpar.

I receive no health care because my deductible is so high I can't afford to see a doctor.

I think it was lame...a dr. can (and should) at least examine someone's back before advising them to go to the ER, as I have been to the dr for back issues before and was examined, and no one freaked out and sent me to the ER. I don't think the dr wanted to take responsibility, but I call that doing her job, or why do we need GPs...to hand out unnecessary antibiotics to people who come in with colds? Because they do an AWESOME job there.

The dr. still could have done an examination (perhaps even an onsite x-ray?) and decided if an ER visit was necessary...after all, ER stands for emergency...was this truly an emergency?? We'll never know because Kirby's dr. never even examined her. And I agree...subpar healthcare. Sorry you had to go through all of that.

[kirby777]

Thanks Lost Key!

Back pain could indicate many things....as an RN, I know I would have waited hours in the ER to be seen. They would not have done an MRI, they would have asked me what I had done recently, tested my rflexes and sensations...gave me some muscle relaers & pain meds and sent me on my way. In fact, a PA would have probably examined me.

When I adv her I just wanted to be treated for a strain...she gave me the scripts I asked for, and sent me on my way...SO if she HONESTLY though it was a spinal cord i njury, she dropped the ball...she should have never allowed me to leave. IMHO, she jsut wanted to pass the buck, thus referring me to a trauma ER???

BTW, I was 100% back to norm in 3 days.

,

[Max]

Yes Kirby I've had sub-par health care. Nothing like yours, my internist despite me mentioning I felt like &%$# wasn't sleuthing for me. So I got fed up after a yr an went to endo-doc. Mucho blood work later simply a low calcium thingy. I was like .2? Ridiculously low.

Husbands experiences were worse. He went 24 hrs after triple bypass with no pain meds. They totally dropped the ball.

[kirby777]

Originally Posted by Max

Yes Kirby I've had sub-par health care. Nothing like yours, my internist despite me mentioning I felt like &%$# wasn't sleuthing for me. So I got fed up after a yr an went to endo-doc. Mucho blood work later simply a low calcium thingy. I was like .2? Ridiculously low.

Husbands experiences were worse. He went 24 hrs after triple bypass with no pain meds. They totally dropped the ball.

Max-

Did the surgeon not order anything for pain for your husband? After all, they did saw open the sternum! WTH?

I dislike going to physicians & advoid as much as I can.

I hope your Calcium is back to normal.

[SilverNeurotic]

My Dad's old cardiologist dismissed symptoms that my Dad was having and my Dad went into full cardiac arrest. He survived, thankfully but I'll probably never forgive that doctor.

He was (and still is) on Digoxin (sp?) a heart medication. It has the possibility of becoming toxic which, combined with a dangerous low potassium level nearly killed my Dad. His doctor kept insisting that the symptoms were side effects of the boarderline diabetes that my Dad also has.