Yeah, We Don't Treat That

I could hardly walk. My stiff, robotic movements and chronic pain were likely result of an ongoing back issue. Four months of physical therapy (PT) followed set of MRIs revealing an old fracture in my back. But, PT was discontinued by my insurance company as I had "achieved my range of motion goals."

I was discharged with only slightly more mobility than before.

Living in a two-story home, I realized that if I went downstairs in the morning, I couldn't really get back upstairs quickly or easily. So I made a plan to only do the stairs twice a day. I made a separate plan to walk laps in the house so that if I tripped over my own feet, I was already at home. I was equipped with plans.

Months later, my back and legs hurt so badly I decided I needed back surgery.  I saw a family practice physician who ordered bloodwork the same day. A phone call or letter would follow with the results.

More than a week later, no call or letter. 

I called the office to inquire.

An office worker, not the doctor, returned my call to say, "Your bloodwork came back. Ummm, yeah, we don't treat that. So she is sending you to a specialist." 

 Me: "What kind of specialist? Don't treat what?" 

Office worker (not the doctor): "The kind that treats that."  

It was three days later, after I left a message for the doctor, that the same office worker called back to relay another message announcing that I had two referrals: one to the rheumatologist and the other to a back specialist. 

Thank you for the clarification.

Neither the physician nor the office worker who made the call to me even work at that office now. 

They have moved on in every way, but have I? 

I probably advocate for myself a bit better than I did at that point. 

I would not quietly tolerate that kind of patient neglect now.