I have over 40 years of experience working with doctors educating them and have held 3 appointments in medical schools as adjunct faculty. My comments often are generalizations from those experiences.
1. There seems to be a moral gap/humanistic lacking component in a subset of those who I have helped to train. Our health care system is the most expensive in the world and yet clearly far from good to all. Physicians are like the fox guarding the chicken coup. Listening to physicians will not change this questionable system. I am part of a lucky group that can access quality care, but I deeply care for those who can't access care.
2. The American system seems to exclude what is learned in the rest of the world. Cilastizol for example is used by neurologists in Canada and Europe. It seems to help individuals with arteriole problems that are associated with PN. Essential oils are used in the Middle East with some success. But essential oils are relatively cheap and Big Pharma has not adopted their use in any meaningful way. Why has the government not sponsored research in this area? How can we as a country come up with cost effective treatments? What is done in other parts of the world?
3. I search daily in the medical publications primarily PubMed looking for good news on PN. It is generally fruitless with work on diabetes and chemotherapy induced PN being the focus. If you are not in that unfortunate group you are more than likely to be treated as though you are.
4. I continue to look for research on the usefulness of CBD and THC but there is very little. But we know that these substances are effective for many. Lessons learned are my personal experiences and it is good for others to share their insights and experiences.
5. As a physician you have had good experiences and it would be beneficial for individuals such as yourself to speak out and encourage others to benefit from your positive results in a way that others may also benefit from. And I agree with you that mindfulness (a change of attitude) is probably the only thing that one can control.
6. Physicians primary focus is on A)avoiding lawsuits and B) getting paid for service. Only after A & B can you schedule an appointment. Things are often rushed; patients can often feel uneasy about their interactions within this environment. We need to see improvements. Things cost too much and there is poor access with often many months before one can access a neurologist.
7. We can continue to seek alternatives that can work. I strongly suggest that there be some biochemistry basis for what is tried.
8. Change will only occur if enough people speak out and demand better solutions.