Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...
So I went in to the doc (not my regular one as he was booked solid for the next few weeks) to ask if I could get a referral to a rheumy as my RA has been getting worse and worse. He basically told me that I am imaganing things and that RA ONLY affects your hand joints and that my knee and ankle pain is all in my head. He refused to give me ANYTHING to help with the pain AND accused me of pill seeking. All this even though I have NEVER even so much as taken an advil for a headache let alone seen any doctors trying to get any narcotics of any kind. He did agree to send me for the same bloodwork and x-rays that I have already done with my regular doctor at the SAME clinic that he is at. But that was all he was willing to do for me. Sometimes I hate the Canadian healthcare system!!
Hugs,
V
At least this jerk is not your regular doctor ...
I think that doc needs to go to Patient Partners and see my cousin and her deformities. I am in Alberta, and part of the problem is a Canadian wide shortage of any docs choosing rheumatology as their speciality. Most years none go into it. I think you need to phone around and see if you can get a referral, but I know how hard it is to even get a different family doc. I am in Edmonton, feel free to PM me because I know a lot about the rheumies here, but not the rest of the province. There is one I would not go to if you paid me a million dollars. The one who sent me away when I was completely crippled and said I did not have RA because I was seronegative. If he had caught me on time, I would probably be able to walk more than a few feet.
Sorry you had this level of ignorance and hoping you get some good care and soon.
Is there anyone you can report him to? It's not like you were NOT asking for a referral. I might be able to understand even a glimmer, if you hadn't asked for a referral, but you did!
Grrrr! Down here (I'm 30 miles from the Ontario Border (in the middle of Lake Erie) I've had doctors do nothing be throw narcotics at me when they can't find a reason (took my old PCP 6 months to diagnose my gall bladder disease/stones) to those who refused to treat me because I'd been involved in a Chronic Pain Rehab Program, who's director holds a lot of clout in the system and had an ego the size of Cleveland. Therefore, once you've been a patient of his, no one else will treat your pain. Oh, and he's specifically a no narcotic/no benzodiazepines practitioner; most of his patients have been addicted to one or both, through no fault of their own, just improper management of their condition. Even at that point in 2009, my drug of choice was prednisone. Still is. It's the only thing that makes me feel normal. Haven't had it in over a year, but I long for that relief.
{gentle hugs} and just remember Karma is a bitch, but if you're lucky you'll get to watch it bite the offender!