As many of you know from other postings, my TJR bilaterally, a year ago, was a great success, and it was the answer to my problems - though it took me 9 years to find the answers - and much of that search for the right answer was done by me, sort of plugging away, desperately, convinced I had a serious joint problem (I did) and trying to find the right doctor.
Here is my desire for feedback - along the way, when the first oral surgeon, after 2 scopes, decided - it seemed - that he had no more to offer me and seemed to be VERY doubtful that I had anything truly joint related going on (despite my symptoms, long story, look in archives?) and he actually warned me AGAINST having more surgery "it will not help and it will probably make things worse" etc - he referred me to a so called TMJ specialty and oral facial pain clinic - the doctor in that clinic he referred me to was NOT the one I ended up seeing - that person was booked up so far ahead - the other partner had a cancellation the next week and I took it (retrospectively maybe that was the bad omen right there, that cancellation?!).
Long story short, she sang a good song, told me she could help me, gave me lots of hope, charged me a bunch of money (we get desperate), I paid lots of $$ for a second splint (she said the first one which did NOTHING for me was "wrong for me"). The second splint did NOT help at all. She had also insisted I go to "her" PT people - all this was a good hour and half drive each way plus longer to get to the PT people - my insurance would not pay for her nor for her PT people, as they said they had people who could do the PT. I tried it for awhile, really, I did, but couldn't afford the days out of work - 3+ hour or more round trip drive each time plus hour for PT appt plus her appt (I tried to combine them on same day so as to miss less work)......when I told her I was NOT getting better, it seemed to be getting worse and I was not going to go to her PT people any longer as I could not afford to pay out of pocket that many visits - basically she went ballistic.
Understand that I am a nurse and know what normal health professionals should be like with patients. I mean, she went NUTS. Everyone in office heard her shouting. I was hysterical at that point (and alone). She blamed my lack of "progress" on my non"compliance".......I am surprised I did not get into a car accident on way home. You know how vulnerable you feel when you are already emotionally and physically stretched to the max.
There followed lots of other issues - trying to get my records from her office for further care - LOTS of avoidance techniques on their part to not comply (from the stupid like saying "she doesn't have notes" to constantly putting me off when I called etc)......
So, where I am now? 6+ years down the road I am still ruminating this in my brain constantly. I seriously think I have a form of PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) from the way she treated me. Normally, as an RN myself who works with surgeons, I am as tough as nails. But she caught me in a real DOWN part of my life and it totally freaked me out above and beyond anything normal. I don't plan to try to sue, I cannot prove anything. But what I believe I CAN do is file a complaint with the State Board of Regulation and Licensing - I had kept pretty extensive notes when this started becoming as bizarre as it did - I have lots of notes, quotes from her office staff when I was trying to get my records, etc. I also found it interesting she insisted on her PT people when it turned out I was writing checks for that service to HER........conflict of interest at all? I just do NOT want to see anyone else treated the way I was and I know how I was treated was wrong. If I treated a patient like that in my job as an RN, I would be fired on the spot and rightfully so.
Part of me wants to do this (and talking to the Board, there is no statute that limits filing a complaint, again this is NOT a lawsuit) but part of me dreads dragging it all through the mud and reliving some of it. OTOH here I am at 1 am and it has been really stewing me.
It seems so sad that I have had such a great outcome with my bil TJR with a wonderful understanding surgeon and then feel like I have this black cloud from this jerky woman "expert" affecting my psyche. Am I totally nuts? Could this be a form of PTSD? It was definitely verbal abuse.
What would anyone think or do in my shoes?
Sincerely, Ginni
Here is my desire for feedback - along the way, when the first oral surgeon, after 2 scopes, decided - it seemed - that he had no more to offer me and seemed to be VERY doubtful that I had anything truly joint related going on (despite my symptoms, long story, look in archives?) and he actually warned me AGAINST having more surgery "it will not help and it will probably make things worse" etc - he referred me to a so called TMJ specialty and oral facial pain clinic - the doctor in that clinic he referred me to was NOT the one I ended up seeing - that person was booked up so far ahead - the other partner had a cancellation the next week and I took it (retrospectively maybe that was the bad omen right there, that cancellation?!).
Long story short, she sang a good song, told me she could help me, gave me lots of hope, charged me a bunch of money (we get desperate), I paid lots of $$ for a second splint (she said the first one which did NOTHING for me was "wrong for me"). The second splint did NOT help at all. She had also insisted I go to "her" PT people - all this was a good hour and half drive each way plus longer to get to the PT people - my insurance would not pay for her nor for her PT people, as they said they had people who could do the PT. I tried it for awhile, really, I did, but couldn't afford the days out of work - 3+ hour or more round trip drive each time plus hour for PT appt plus her appt (I tried to combine them on same day so as to miss less work)......when I told her I was NOT getting better, it seemed to be getting worse and I was not going to go to her PT people any longer as I could not afford to pay out of pocket that many visits - basically she went ballistic.
Understand that I am a nurse and know what normal health professionals should be like with patients. I mean, she went NUTS. Everyone in office heard her shouting. I was hysterical at that point (and alone). She blamed my lack of "progress" on my non"compliance".......I am surprised I did not get into a car accident on way home. You know how vulnerable you feel when you are already emotionally and physically stretched to the max.
There followed lots of other issues - trying to get my records from her office for further care - LOTS of avoidance techniques on their part to not comply (from the stupid like saying "she doesn't have notes" to constantly putting me off when I called etc)......
So, where I am now? 6+ years down the road I am still ruminating this in my brain constantly. I seriously think I have a form of PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) from the way she treated me. Normally, as an RN myself who works with surgeons, I am as tough as nails. But she caught me in a real DOWN part of my life and it totally freaked me out above and beyond anything normal. I don't plan to try to sue, I cannot prove anything. But what I believe I CAN do is file a complaint with the State Board of Regulation and Licensing - I had kept pretty extensive notes when this started becoming as bizarre as it did - I have lots of notes, quotes from her office staff when I was trying to get my records, etc. I also found it interesting she insisted on her PT people when it turned out I was writing checks for that service to HER........conflict of interest at all? I just do NOT want to see anyone else treated the way I was and I know how I was treated was wrong. If I treated a patient like that in my job as an RN, I would be fired on the spot and rightfully so.
Part of me wants to do this (and talking to the Board, there is no statute that limits filing a complaint, again this is NOT a lawsuit) but part of me dreads dragging it all through the mud and reliving some of it. OTOH here I am at 1 am and it has been really stewing me.
It seems so sad that I have had such a great outcome with my bil TJR with a wonderful understanding surgeon and then feel like I have this black cloud from this jerky woman "expert" affecting my psyche. Am I totally nuts? Could this be a form of PTSD? It was definitely verbal abuse.
What would anyone think or do in my shoes?
Sincerely, Ginni
