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I did ask her if I could get a copy of results and she said she was sending results to my neurologist who referred me to her. Its upsetting that these doctors provide these patient portals yet some doctors, like my neurologist, never uploads any of my results to my portal even though I repeatedly ask him to. I feel he just thinks I have anxiety and that's why he appears to me to be very lax and nonchalant about my health concerns.
Many doctors too even when being told by the patient how their nonstop debilitating symptoms are destroying their life, quality of life etc,, they still act nonchalant and say 'well, come back in six months and let's see how you are doing', even though they know you've been suffering for two years etc. Or they schedule tests that are three to six months out or they drag their feet in doing tests as a process of elimination like this Small Nerve Fiber skin biopsy that one of my neurologist should have already done by now over these past 2.5 years.
Why is it that so many patients like me with chronic nonstop debilitating and frightening symptoms are blown off by their doctors OR these specialists want to blame it all on anxiety??
I am totally dismayed and disgusted with far too many doctors that think nothing of dragging out a patients misery and pain for years or they refuse to look at anything else for the cause of these symptoms except anxiety and they quickly want to put you on antidepressants and refer you out to a Psychiatrist.
That's insulting to me.
Replies to "I did ask her if I could get a copy of results and she said she..."
After 5 years, an Integrative Medicine doctor recommended Acupuncture. I thought “Why Not?” Since we’re not doing anything else (I haven’t been able to get a SFN skin biopsy ordered me, or an MRI, so I understand your frustration). I had my first Acupuncture session last week. They told me we need 4 sessions to determine how it’s working for me. But I’ll say, I had some pleasant changes in feeling after my first visit, so I’m staying optimistic, as I head to my 2nd session today! (My insurance doesn’t cover, and I know we’ve all spent a lot of money on our illness, but I’m willing to try it for $60)
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Joannemm,
I just posted this a few minutes ago in response to someone else. Unless you have a treatable cause for your neuropathy, neurologists can only offer the same old worn out regimens in the hopes that something help you. You are right about a skin biopsy being done a long time ago. Many people have great experiences with spinal cord stimulation. Unfortunately it didn’t help me. Good luck!
I was diagnosed with Idiopathic Small Fiber Neuropathy (ISFN) 6 years ago. I have been to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, University of Alabama in Birmingham, and Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta. I have had 3 skin biopsies, numerous MRI’s, Nerve Conduction studies, EMG’S, numerous sympathetic nerve blocks, epidurals, a spinal cord stimulator and a DRG stimulator. I have taken every drug that’s indicated for neuropathic pain. I have had EXTENSIVE blood work that is totally normal. The only abnormal tests were the skin biopsies with gave me the diagnosis of ISFN.
If your neuropathy is idiopathic. I would encourage you to see a pain specialist about spinal cord stimulation. Learn everything you can! As I have said before, medicine has failed those suffering with neuropathy. They do plenty of clinical trails, that produce absolutely nothing in terms of effective treatment. Think about it, two very popular drugs for neuropathy, gabapentin and Lyrica started out with an indication for seizures, and they have been out for years. We have had nothing new of any significance to treat neuropathy for many years.