Folo to 2nd Guessing Rheumy

[countryrose]

Hello, I am back from a folo visit to the rheumy whom I 2nd guessed in a previous post. When I arrived with the same symptoms, he was fully armed with his argument and decision. Once again, he completely was disparaging, and told me that I was in such a bad state, crippled, that I was in denial (just becuase I am getting 2nd opinion from neuro), that I have spondylarthropathy, and it is causing all my issues with pain and cervical spondylosis, and SIJD..etc..except for the numbness..ahh_hahh..the numbness & tingling, weakness, which is why I am seeking a diagnosis other than what he has told me, and many other doctors have disagreed with. He looked me in the eye, and said that he was sticking to his guns ,and I only had 1 choice in getting better, ENBREL...what??? I said that the risk of cancer from that drug was not worth it to me, so he said, but your quality of life is poor, your crippled, "disabled." We clearly disagreed on treatment, but I tried to keep level-headed and said that I would see how I would do after physical therapy and decide from there..he had a flash of "satisfaction", and immediately I was tested for TB in prep for this Enbrel.

Question is, isn't there a drug out there for chronic pain/inflammation that comes before Enbrel...I have been on nsaids for 3 years..the jump seems extreme.

thanks for reading this
take care

[countryrose]

I have had my entire spine/brain minus sacrum MRI'd, and abdominal ultrasound, 2 back xrays, cbcs 2x, Ana/toxin testing..etc..I don't know if sarcoidosis would have been found
then. only findings are sed rate 41, cervical spondylosis & SIJD, and of course what my "out of sorts" rheumy suggests.

thank you

[countryrose]

Thank you so much for your helpful suggestions. Yes, I was so disgusted with my rheumy, but I did everything to keep myself in check,so that I wouldn't get a reputation as a difficult patient, etc...I know firsthand from a relative how that can be, and how his care has suffered from being confrontational.
I fought back tears later because I knew that this doc was a major jerk, and all I could think of was his mind going "cha-ching" He had the audacity to tell me that he had to be harsh with me because I just wasn't accepting of his diagnosis and of the 3 years he has been treating me, he knew more than any of the other docs I had been sent to. He tried to make me feel guilty for spending so much insurance $$$ on unnecessary tests when he had the answer already..Yeah right! The bozo. I have started to lose respect for him over a year ago, when he didn't know what other symptoms were until an accupuncturist suggested I had FMS, and he said, "oh, maybe you do have that, yeah ok."
At that time, I was stuck with him due to insurance, not anymore. I will look for someone else.

I appreciate your response, as I need to know when I am getting the short end here with doc protocol.

Best to you all.

[myproblem]

There are a lot of autoimmune disease control medications besides Enbrel. They are classified as DMARD's. If you google DMARD, you should find lists of them so you can research each one. Also if you look up Autoimmune Disease, or Rheumatoid Arthritis on emedicine.com, and scroll down the article to the treatment section, there will be many listed. I was taking Arava for MCTD before I got pregnant. I had decent success with it, and no side effects. Theat Dr. is very unprofessional to argue with you like that. You have every right to get a 2nd opinion, and to go to a neurologist. The numbness, tingling, and weakness may be neurological, but can be conected to some autoimmune disorders as well. Good luck.

[Hityty]

I'm sorry you're having so many problems getting help. Demiguise is right, he's a jerk. I hate when doctors don't listen, unfortunately that happens all the time!
Have you been checked for Sarcoidosis?
Please look up the Marshall Protocol. It explains a curative therapy for many illnesses, its fairly new and not widely accepted yet, but it is successful and have already treated hundreds of people! The "Essential Information about the MP" & "Marshall Protocol FAQ's" Are great places to begin reading about the MP. Also, on the main page "marshallprotocol.com" you can run a search for spondylarthropathy, they have info on this and links to sites that helped others who were diagnosed & misdiagnosed with this. Don't let anyone scare you out of looking into the MP, it's often mistaken as a "cure-all" scheme or just another health message board. It's not! Its about a new treatment, and is moderated by Dr. Marshall Phd, his medical staff, and other experienced patients, all who have been on the MP and wanting very much to help others who are sick. No one is making a profit of any kind from this website. So please check into it, I've been on the MP for a few months (Its a long term treatment, but well worth feeling better!!!) And I already see that it is working, after 20 years of doctor visits, I finally am getting treated successfully.
Take care and keep us updated!

[Demiguise]

What a jerk! You tried. Atleast he did the protocal of TB test.
Problem w/ Enbrel is many reported various infections & FDA did
a letter out to Dr's to do close monitoring & mental changes.
I haven't heard of cancer. Most were neuro problems/blood
disorders. Pick brain while doing PT by that person a little
here/there. Don't mention Dr. suggested. There is an old combo
I call the dinosaur drugs that work pretty gd. Still, like any,
can have side affects but not like newer & work well. Docs
forget abt the combo's. Skelaxen is rx for anti-inflammatory of
skeleton-muscles & Naproxen OTC is a muscle relaxer to lessen
tightness. PT's talk more to keep mode relaxed after a few
appts. Bet you needed a Valium after this appt! Even a new
Rheum. would fax for records but are you in a place where you
can change? Sometimes the desk at PT's will name drop of the
top Rheums. that refer to them. Good opener is difficulty w/
staff/getting appt/need someone closer. Maybe the staff at the
neuro's has a referral list. Your scan report often has a poss.
dx's small note on page at bottom. Worth a read. It's never 1
pill fits all. He must have had a success story of trophy-
winning tango dancers after Enbrel. Like a commercial. Later.