Recommend surgeon who'll be honest about if surgery will help?

@ccchang Exactly, and Cedars has actually been the worst overall. When this started in July of 2023, my wife drove me to the ER because my low right side back pain was so bad, like a knife was stuck in my back. They performed a CT scan of my abdomen and pelvis looking for kidney stones, but all of my organs were normal, and no stones were present.

The ER doctor then proceeded to either lie to me, or mis-diagnose me, either way, not a good look for Cedars. First, a little context at the ER. I was there from about 1pm until 5pm, so actually not the longest ER visit, but still as much fun. While I was waiting to be brought to the CT scan room, there were nurses and doctors rushing around, and I heard a couple of them comment on how busy it was that day. So, when an ER employee says it is hectic, it is hectic.

This is what I believe happened...since I was not in distress to where I was rolling on the floor screaming, and they needed to clear out some patients because it was that busy, I was given a line of BS by the attending physician.

He told me the CT scan showed Diverticulosis in my colon (I researched all of this when I got home, didn't know details at the ER). He actually drew on a piece of paper, showing me what happens in the colon, especially after a certain age (I was 60 at the time), little pockets bulge out and this is where food/waste can get stuck. If there is no problem with trapped food, and there is no infection (which is Diverticulitis, when you need anti-biotics), there are no symptoms. So, no pain in the abdomen or low back, and the only way to find Diverticulosis is when another scan (like my CT scan) is run.

There were two problems with this diagnosis. First, after telling me false information about my condition, I asked him what do I do, and all he said was "eat more broccoli", then walked away. So, I was sent home with the same pain I arrived with, and as I stated, either lied to, or mis-diagnosed.

The reason I say this is two-fold; Diverticulosis has NO SYMPTOMS, as there is no infection, and no trapped matter in your intestine / colon. The only time you will have pain from this condition is when it progresses to Diverticulitis (an infection). And the pain from this condition will be in the LOWER LEFT ABDOMEN, not the LOWER RIGHT SIDE of my BACK. And this is why I say it was either a lie (he didn't know what was wrong, but needed to clear out some room in the ER), or it was a mis-diagnosis, where he didn't know the difference between the two conditions. Not sure which is worse, would have to ask the hospital which situation they would rather explain to their patients.

This was all the VERY FIRST DAY of my now more than three year journey into medical H E DOUBLE TOOTHPICKS. I have been going through multiple hospitals, I've seen multiple doctors, and they all have their problems, even the "elite" ones. But the way I've been treated overall has been very disappointing, so it doesn't help just because I changed hospitals / doctors, someone will still mess something up.

I just had Fusion done - I interviewed a few and selected my surgeon - I trust my surgeon, can recommend, but where are you located?

@marcd2k Oh no, what a terrible experience! Maybe UCSF or Mayo (Phoenix)? I hope you're able to find a good doctor. I've seen many doctors too - all kinds.