Not only were the phone staff great (and moved u my appt after I expressed unhappiness it was taking so long to get one), but the office staff, and nurse who took my history, blood pressure, etc., was also great, and thenI saw Dr. Patel! Don't care what UNHAPPY says, he's the absolutely nicest, most caring doctor I ever had, which also includes my last spinal surgeon Dr. Geoffrey Stewart, who was pretty awesome (fixed my spine Dr. Broom screwed up by leaving it in two halves) discounted my medicare co-pay, until they informed him thi9s year that was illegal [oh well] and always saw me personally, and had great PA's too)... but Dr. Patel was very caring ... he only reviewed the last few of my records (they are VERY extensive) and didn't care that my last doctor had dismissed me for no good reason .. (I tried detox in a hospital with oxycodone... he knew this put it in my records... wrote me a new prescription ; and then drug tested me and a week later sent me a letter discharging me).Dr. Patel's comment ""That's weird ... well, I believe you have real pain ... and we also drug test periodically, so ... let's see what we can do for you."" Do you know, UNHAPPY, how good it feels to have a doctor tell you he believes you have REAL PAIN? After the last one said you probably just have phantom pain? (Dr. Placier, in case anyone was thinking of going there ... weird, he shares an office with my surgeon, and they couldn't be more different... my Mom read his records of me and was furious at the things he wrote, the inaccuracies, and the misquotes, and the errors, not to mention the discharge for no reason.) Let me tell you, it's such a relief to have a doctor believe you and WANT to HELP you, I can't describe. He then examined me thoroughly, and recommended a three-series of steroid injections, because he said, the iliac joint (at the top of the hip bone/pelvis often gets inflamed with back surgery (and I had three, plus three treatment for osteomyelitis (bone infection) ... and no one had EVER even suggested that before. They give you an option of sedated or not, and I chose sedated and it didn't hurt a bit, and after two injection I felt juch better and after three, I can't even describe how much better I feel maybe 70-80 percent better... with my meds, which by the way are much less than Placier had me on... my pain level is usually a 2-3, and it was never less than a 5-6 at best before, with fr5equesnt flares to 8-10, sending me to the hospital a lot for pain and vomiting from the pain. Unfortunately, Dr. Placer is gone now, he was a fellow, but last time I saw a PA named Denize, who was equally nice and kind and understanding and helpful. I love this place... except for the REALLY UNCOMFORTABLE chairs in all the waiting areas. But I must say they rarely keep you waiting very long at all... ten, maybe 15 minuts, but usually far less.
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