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The test the neurologist is going to do is probably an EMG, which checks if nerveNerve biopsy Nerve conduction velocity impulses are working properly. Since you mentioned you have back issues, could be some nerves are jammed up in there, causing your numbness. Hopefully you have already had a scan done, or he might order one, so the neuro can see the pictures and report and determine if your spine is out-of-whack, and he can come up with a treament approach. Treatment can range from physical therapy all the way up to surgery, and may or may not include drugs. If the neurologist comes up blank, then I suggest you visit an internal medicine doctor to get you checked for diabetes since it can cause numbness in the lower extremities, and the internist can also make sure you don't have some problem with your circulatory system, and in general take charge of your overall health. If you have a general doc right now that doesn't care about you, find another one.
As for your pain and numbness being ignored and physicians' poor bedside manners, I know exactly how you feel. Doctors are rushed by our thus-far broken health care system, they hear pain and other complaints all the time, and since there are few clues to objectively measure pain and since they are on guard for drug-seekers and since they rate whining folk as a waste of time when compared to someone who has no legs, the patient who might as well have no legs suffers in silence. Me, I always ask my doctors to explain WHY this is happening, and even just a few sentences from them can mean the world to me. Also, if my pain levels get unbearable, I generally will cry openly and explain a few things I cannot do anymore because of my discomfort. I just try not to take outside attitudes personally, but to balance that out, I keep a sympathetic doc in my corner, doesn't matter what specialty, becuz THEY will respond more liberally to health problems. I hope this helps you a little bit.
As for your pain and numbness being ignored and physicians' poor bedside manners, I know exactly how you feel. Doctors are rushed by our thus-far broken health care system, they hear pain and other complaints all the time, and since there are few clues to objectively measure pain and since they are on guard for drug-seekers and since they rate whining folk as a waste of time when compared to someone who has no legs, the patient who might as well have no legs suffers in silence. Me, I always ask my doctors to explain WHY this is happening, and even just a few sentences from them can mean the world to me. Also, if my pain levels get unbearable, I generally will cry openly and explain a few things I cannot do anymore because of my discomfort. I just try not to take outside attitudes personally, but to balance that out, I keep a sympathetic doc in my corner, doesn't matter what specialty, becuz THEY will respond more liberally to health problems. I hope this helps you a little bit.