@treglaser Welcome to our group of helpful people I have the same problems as you I only go to my rheumatologist who knows all about these problems I also have back issues so I go to my Orthopedic Dr for this keep your PCP informed.

Dear Treglaser: I am so sorry for you as I have been and still am going through the same problems as you. I do not want to bad mouth the doctors as i have in the past but something should and must be done for the patients such as you, I and all the others here on this earth. In my 81 years of life I have seen the medical fields go from their trying to do right to: what I think now is the hugh conglomerates taking over and trying to make money off of the patients in many, many different ways. However, I do absolve the many doctors who are doing whatever they can in the many ways that they can. What to do?

Hi treglaser!
Welcome to the group. Your frustration rings loud and clear. I have been working in the healthcare industry for 28 years. It can definitely be complex and a person can find themselves in a tangled web without realizing it. Even with my back ground in the industry I found myself caught in the web of doctors and it became quickly confusing. But I was able to get myself freed. For me it was about trust. At some point I had to stop looking for the answers and trust one doctor. But that’s hard when all you want is to get better, feel pain free once again. But when I spend all my energy running around at appointments it was more exhausting and made the pain worse. Once I decide NO MORE. I now only see my family doctor, neurologist, nephrologist (Mayo Clinic) and each specialist only handles their specialty and my family doctor handles the big picture. I spend a lot more time doing things that I can do and less time focused on what I can’t do.

Do you have one doctor that tends to take the lead?If all your doctors were taken away their is just one you just can’t imagine not seeing any longer? My Mayo Clinic Doctor is that Doctor for me. He took charge he is amazing but trust me I had seen 17 doctors before him.

Lots of prayers!!
Dawn

Good morning, sir! So very happy to have you here at Mayo Clinic Connect. @treglaser, my name on here is Mamacita, and I am a Volunteer Mentor here on Mayo Clinic Connect. I was a patient just looking for confirmation, assistance, and support, just a few years ago. I also have Fibromyalgia, Degenerative DIsc Disease, Spinal Stenosis, Arthritis in all of my joints. I see my wonderful Primary Care Physician for almost everything. He listens to me, is very intelligent, and tries to make time for me. I also have a Rheumatologist. He handles everything about my Arthritis and all. I also use supplements occassionally that have been well researched and known to not be contraindicated with all the medicine I take. I work carefully and mindfully with all my doctors. I look into research and treatment plans that might work for me as well as for others.

Before I retired, which was three years ago, I could barely walk. I hated to use a cane or a walker, but I really needed to do so. Constant, unrelenting pain will change a person. Some of my co-workers mocked me. They thought I was exaggerating the pain I was experiencing, to get sympathy, I suppose. I was always a hard worker and put my heart and soul into everything that I did. The lack of support in my workplace hurt me as much as my failing body did., I know exactly what it feels like to just want to end the suffering.

May I share with you just a few words that might help in your situation? I don't know where you live, but it is my experience that most small town doctors have the best of intentions, have sterling credentials, want the best possible care for their patients....but they are not equipped to handle such cases as ours. Those of us with multiple conditions, especially neurological ones get the most benefit from going to a University Medical Center. In my area, most folks put their trust in the University of Alabama Health Care System. A teaching hospital keeps up with the latest in medical advancement. They are also more likely to be aware of possible contraindications of certain prescriptions. Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville TN is also an excellent resource. Mayo Clinic has resources throughout the country. Jacksonville, Florida has a Mayo Clinic Center as well. Many people from my area go there.

I hope that you will carefully consider looking up some doctors who have a large practice in your field. A University System, where you can look up on the computer and see actual reviews before you make an appointment. Also, I would like to invite you to check out the rest of the groups here on Mayo Clinic Connect. Arthritis support, chronic pain, fibromyalgia. Just about anything and everything a person could need. We are here to help, because we have been where you are. We work together as a team. We are better together. My prayers and good thoughts and hopes are with you as you walk this path. I truly believe there is much hope for you and that you will find some answers sooner than expected. If it can happen for me, it can happen for anyone.

Mamacita