So the other Longmont spine doctor named Dr. Smith wanted to do some injections to isolate where the pain is coming from – after I told him. Multiple times – along with a rehash of everything else for the umpteenth time. I didn’t bother asking him to explain how making the pain go away with anesthetics and steroids would better help find it. That just seemed a bit too insulting to both of us. Ineffective and unnecessary diagnostics appear to be an important bottom-line booster. Gerlach got x-rays. This gentleman gets paid only for another useless office visit, despite trying to get more x-rays and some injections. Seriously? You could cut the diagnostically bereft dishonesty coming out of this guy’s mouth with a knife.
Seeing the overall healthcare picture from this perspective is disturbing. It’s probably the biggest reason why I like the VA – they are certainly not in it for the money – but that engenders other issues. In any event, apparently patients are not the best source of information about their maladies these days, regardless of who is writing their doctor’s paycheck. My view of doctors is dimming at an alarming rate – probably normal for someone my age. They are after all, just people.
And I have no problem with people making mistakes. The problem comes when they don’t own up to it, followed by lies of deceit and omission. This one particular mess of a therapeutic misadventure is now becoming clear. They let little things slip from time-to-time. Smith knows or at least knows of Park. They also seem to know they have a problem, and it’s not my back injury. Stalling probably works in most of these cases, just not this time. This type of dishonesty appearing to be an acceptable course of action is stunning, to me. How naive I must be. Orthopedic surgery outcomes like this are a not uncommon occurrence, so they just try to ride it out, hoping the patient gets better? How many more doctors do I need to tell I still haven’t recovered from the January surgery? Next up: MKS on the 1st.
Maybe I turn up with some morbid complication? Depending on what turns up in other areas, they better hope I don’t need another surgery because of this. If I find out they knew about it and were just trying to wait me out, I’m thinking max-dollar tort against the government. That’s how it’s gonna go if we find some REAL bullshit going on.
The only thing I can prove right now is they knew about it for sure in June – if anybody was paying attention. There’s strong indication in the record they should have known about it in January, right after the surgery. Patients aren’t the only ones signing release forms. Probably not even worth it after the state, feds, hospital and lawyers get their cut. I’m sure there are legal time limits well-aligned with the delays.