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Your Tips on How to Get Off to the Best Start with a New Specialist

Posted by Colleen Young, Connect Director @colleenyoung, Nov 2, 2018

I'm looking for your best tips.
Starting a relationship with a new specialist can be daunting. You want to get off to a good start and ensure that you establish mutual respect and are able to develop trust. You want to know you're in good hands. What is their expertise and experience? What research are they doing? Will they listen and consider your input?

How do you get off to the best start with a new provider? What suggestions would you tell a friend who is going to see a new doctor?

+++UPDATE+++
Your tips in action: Tips shared in the discussion below made this video. It's great advice: For patients by patients.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Visiting Mayo Clinic Support Group.

lioness | @lioness | Aug 27, 2019
In reply to @contentandwell "@lioness. When you refer to cement are you talking about a kyphoplasty? If so, I had..." + (show)
@contentandwell

@lioness. When you refer to cement are you talking about a kyphoplasty? If so, I had that in 2004 for a fractured vertebra. It was a miracle initially but about two weeks later I was walking with high heels on and slipped, and wrenched my back to avoid a fall. I think I must have caused the cement to move or something. Even so, it was not much pain, but I do have a visible lump sticking out of my back now. When I was heavier it wasn’t really noticeable but it is now, and it hurts to sit in a hard backed chair.

If I recall correctly my fracture was L2. They just gave me some pain meds (I was in CA, this was at Cedars Sinai) but when I got home my PCP encouraged the kyphoplasty.
JK

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@contentandwell Yes that is it ,a kyphoplasty. Jennifer sent me a report on it from nih.gov . I know people who had the cement and it dislodged or leaked ,a friend here had it and now it broke of and she to has a lump in her back. That will be the last thing I will do if this doesn't get better on its on with what I'm doing now. I am seeing a pain Dr soon for a pain injection.

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Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Aug 27, 2019
In reply to @resawaller "Yes I'm 54 today! And I'm very scared to have Chiari surgery! Im looking for someone..." + (show)
@resawaller

Yes I'm 54 today! And I'm very scared to have Chiari surgery! Im looking for someone that has had the same surgery so I can ask how it went! Either encourage me or shy me or shy me away from it ! I've been sick for over 1 yr now and the nerve pain is hell so I dnt know what ealse to do! Thank you and I need prayers!

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Hi @resawaller, it can help to talk to others who have had Chiari surgery and read their stories. I encourage you to connect with other members talking about Chiari Malformation in the Brain & Nervous System group here https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/brain-and-nerve-diseases/).

Here are a few active discussions about Chiari that you may wish to read and take part in.
- Chiari Malformation type 1 https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/chiari-malformation-type-1-20782d/
- Chronic pain due to chiari 1 malformation with syringomyelia https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/cronic-pain-2746d4/

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resawaller | @resawaller | Aug 27, 2019
In reply to @lioness "@resawaller I will keep you in my prayers . God is a great healer ,Dr,s and..." + (show)
@lioness

@resawaller I will keep you in my prayers . God is a great healer ,Dr,s and nurses are his hands.

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Thank you so much for yr r epely it helps to know I'm not the only one with Chiari! I don't know what to do? Every time it gets close to surgery I cancel, and I'm getting sicker by the day! Anyone out there that has had Chiari surgery?? Please help!

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JK | @contentandwell | Aug 27, 2019
In reply to @lioness "@contentandwell Yes that is it ,a kyphoplasty. Jennifer sent me a report on it from nih.gov..." + (show)
@lioness

@contentandwell Yes that is it ,a kyphoplasty. Jennifer sent me a report on it from nih.gov . I know people who had the cement and it dislodged or leaked ,a friend here had it and now it broke of and she to has a lump in her back. That will be the last thing I will do if this doesn't get better on its on with what I'm doing now. I am seeing a pain Dr soon for a pain injection.

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@lioness. It really did help but if I had known all of this I may have been less apt to rush into it.
JK

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resawaller | @resawaller | Aug 27, 2019
In reply to @jodeej "@resawaller I know people that have had that surgery for chiari. It has helped both of..." + (show)
@jodeej

@resawaller I know people that have had that surgery for chiari. It has helped both of them. Of course, the thought of having this surgery is terrifying. But it truly does help.

Blessings,
JoDee

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Thank you so much for yr repely and had helped to know I'm not the only one with this problem! Anyone out there that has had Chiari surgery please talk to me ! And thanks

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Mentor
Chris, Volunteer Mentor | @auntieoakley | Aug 27, 2019
In reply to @lioness "@contentandwell Yes that is it ,a kyphoplasty. Jennifer sent me a report on it from nih.gov..." + (show)
@lioness

@contentandwell Yes that is it ,a kyphoplasty. Jennifer sent me a report on it from nih.gov . I know people who had the cement and it dislodged or leaked ,a friend here had it and now it broke of and she to has a lump in her back. That will be the last thing I will do if this doesn't get better on its on with what I'm doing now. I am seeing a pain Dr soon for a pain injection.

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James used lidocaine patches for a bout a year and now just occasionally, it did fuse on its own and he has a little pain but it is pretty well managed. He has had two collapse now from the multiple myeloma.

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lioness | @lioness | Aug 27, 2019
In reply to @auntieoakley "James used lidocaine patches for a bout a year and now just occasionally, it did fuse..." + (show)
@auntieoakley

James used lidocaine patches for a bout a year and now just occasionally, it did fuse on its own and he has a little pain but it is pretty well managed. He has had two collapse now from the multiple myeloma.

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@auntieoakley This is the last thing I will do. So far my back seems to be healing on its on as it is getting better . I use the lidocaine patches and they do help. I'm sorry to hear about your husband . When we are weak that is when He is the strongest in our lives. I just keep the faith and believing

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lioness | @lioness | Aug 27, 2019
In reply to @resawaller "Thank you so much for yr r epely it helps to know I'm not the only..." + (show)
@resawaller

Thank you so much for yr r epely it helps to know I'm not the only one with Chiari! I don't know what to do? Every time it gets close to surgery I cancel, and I'm getting sicker by the day! Anyone out there that has had Chiari surgery?? Please help!

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@resawaller I'm sorry if I mislead you I don't have Chiari. I worked for 35 yrs as a nurse in the O.R. and other places . If you have pressure on the brain to drain it will help I'm praying for you It is scary any surgery is but there is a lot of good that comes out of it ..

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1 reply
schony1087 | @schony1087 | Aug 27, 2019

back and nerve pain after surgery

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Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Aug 27, 2019
In reply to @resawaller "Thank you so much for yr repely and had helped to know I'm not the only..." + (show)
@resawaller

Thank you so much for yr repely and had helped to know I'm not the only one with this problem! Anyone out there that has had Chiari surgery please talk to me ! And thanks

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@resawaller, I'm glad to see that you have connected with others talking about Chiari Malformation in the Brain & Nervous System group.
Go to this link to continue connect with others who understand and who have been there https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/chiari-malformation-type-1-20782d/

@schony1087 you will find discussions about back pain in the Spine Health group https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/spine-health/

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