Posted 8/29/2007 8:56 PM (GMT 0)
Gramps, thanks for that I appreciate knowing that their are other people in my area that feel like I do. Yeah, I originated in the Rockford area. The very first pain doc I saw treated me for a few months, but as soon as the neurosurgeon said that he could not see any problem in the MRI, I was summarily and without respect, let go from the practice. It took me several years, but finally I found a wonderful doctor in Chicago. This doctor was absolutely everything I hoped for. Unfortunately, she came to see what we all see. She says that she left the business for financial reasons, to actually become a financial planner. However, I think the real reason is that she was probably being harrassed by the DEA. I saw her for 5 years. Towards the end, I remember her asking me if there was any way that I could do with a smaller quantity of meds per day. I think that she probably asked me that because either herself or her colleagues were getting trouble from the government. But thats just my theory, no evidence of it really. Anyways, I asked for a referral before she went out of practice, and she sent me to the largest pain clinic in the Chicago area, if that is an indication to you to where I went. Now, on my first visit, it was astonishing because the pain doc had absolutely no problem with continuing me on my current regimen. That's fine and dandy, but everytime I go to that facility, all I feel is coldness from the nurses and doctors. Maybe because they are so busy they cannot really get to know their patients, or whatever. Still, I would like to believe that one would go into medicine, and especially pain medicine, because you want to ease other's suffering and because one has an inate affection for his fellow man. That's my take on it. And, between you and me, I am entering a program at U of I that will make me a nurse practitioner. You better believe that I intend to help chronic pain patients like us. I really really hope that I can bring some humanity back to medicine, particularly our brand of it. Thanks for caring enough to write back, Gramps.