Finding good diagnosticians

As most of you know I'm relatively new to chronic pain, unlike most of you, I've only been dealing with my issues for about two years. Everybody disagrees about what's wrong with me.

In your experience, do PCPs make the best diagnosticians? Mine have been useless so far. Vicki, you've mentioned in another post going to a university hospital. I live within 30 minutes of a nationally renowned university hospital (top 10 in the country). I can get an appointment but who should I see there? I want to call up the information line and say "hey, I don't know what's wrong with me, it's a nerve issue I think, who should I talk to?" LOL. I guess what I'm asking is should I see a PCP there or is there another process, like admission counseling to further refine your needs?

Thanks.

M&G is correct and its not usually easy to see say Neuro by calling and some require a referral from primary or even the ER. Your pcp can make a referral. Call the patients advocate to start with and they should be able to help with what's needed.

Anytime you have a variety of things going on and not a lot of definitive answers a Teaching hospital is your best and most convenient place to go. It's important to have a team of drs as well as therapist and access to the latest tests and procedures to figure it out and treat. At Med schools its all under one roof, they're more apt at communicating between each specialty and if your complicated they have some of the world's finest in their areas.

It's like shopping at the mall versus running all over town! !

Plus if you are in a financial bind as many of us are they are income based pay and as already said accept almost every kind of insurance and Medicaid /Medicare plans and run a plethora of trials at all times with the opportunity to make extra cash. Some of the studies and trials pay hundreds and even thousands for your participation and you get access to meds and treatment you normally wouldn't have. There's always several trial studies concerned with CP, chronic issues, depression from chronic issues, etc. Not all require more of you then answering questions or taking surveys, seeing psych students and of course the more indepth the requirement the more money is paid but that's your choice. Just a heads up.

Keep us posted on getting in with this hospital. Those places are the best when a person hits the brick wall with multiple issues or when a dr says he just cannot find the problem.You are very fortunate to have one close by.

I just made an appointment with a PCP at the U hospital. I couldn't get in until the end of October but I'm sure it will be worth the wait. I just can't stand not having a clear direction in this thing.