Today, I went to a pain specialist to get help with my chronic pain. He did not diagnose anything or discuss causes. He then said, "Good luck with that" as I left. Of course, I still got billed. FML
Collection
Fall
Dead leaves, the first cold of the season and an umbrella flipped inside out: fall, the season of grace.
Today, I went to the hospital for crippling back pain that made it impossible to walk. The doctor was more interested in telling me off for not taking a pill that he admitted doesn't help acute pain. He then gave me an injection that wore off in an hour, and sent me home, telling me to take over the counter meds. FML
Today, after establishing that we have no idea what's wrong with me, only that it's chronic pain, my doctor informed me that even though I've been dealing with increasingly worse symptoms for years, I'm not a "good applicant" for pain medication. FML
Today, I finally got insurance after months of paperwork, and so I went to the doctor. I was billed $873 for a "consultation" that pretty much consisted of being weighed and told to "Google it." FML
Today, I waited months for a specialist doctor’s appointment, only to find out that it's the same guy I already saw for the same problem years ago, who was at his wit's end after seeing nothing wrong on the x-ray, and had no clue as to what might be causing my pain. FML
Today, after 8 years of being guinea-pigged for medical testing that "might work" on my ribcage for chronic pain, I finally caved and tried going to a pain clinic. The doctors' responses mostly consisted of, "That's weird" and, "That doesn't make any sense." FML
Today, I visited my new doctor, hoping that he would be able to figure out the cause of the pains I've been having for years. He told me there's nothing he can do, that half the drugs out there cause cancer anyway and that I should look into homeopathy. Great. FML
Today, I had a procedure that should have been covered by my health insurance, but while I was there, I asked the doc to sign a prescription for an unrelated thing. This apparently turned the insured procedure into a consultation, so they charged me full price for the procedure, over $15,000. FML
Today, I went to get an MRI for preventive care. The diagnosis was great, but I ended up having complications with the contrast, so now I have terrible muscle pain and have to see more doctors. I have mixed feelings. FML
Today, after three months of wait, I expected to have a diagnosis and treatment plan from my doctor. Instead, I got an appointment with a surgeon "just to be sure", and an appointment with a GP to get referrals to two other doctors for more appointments. Meanwhile, my health gets worse and worse. FML
Today, I was diagnosed with a chronic pain condition. My parents seemed very sympathetic and my mother even cried. When we got home, though, they started laughing and asked if I really believed all the shit the doctor was talking about. FML
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Top comments
Hangryko 32
Report him and contest the bill.
Brightside86 31
The one thing you can always count on doctors knowing is how to send bills.
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Comments (4)
Hangryko 32
Report him and contest the bill.
Brightside86 31
I'd be surprised if you could contest the bill. With doctors you're paying for their time. Getting the outcome you want isn't a factor in that transaction. Often all they can really do is refer you to a specialist.
TwoBytesCarley 27
I can understand that but I think OP could contest that they are at a specialist looking to get a diagnostic work up, hopefully leading to a diagnosis. They were there specifically to get looked at and weren’t, therefore the basic expectation of services weren’t rendered and therefore should not be owed. Well, that’s what I would argue anyway..
Brightside86 31
The one thing you can always count on doctors knowing is how to send bills.
Chazzster 32
Something is a bit off about this. And it could be one of two things. “Pain Specialists” are the only MD’s allowed to prescribe opiates and other strong pain medications for long term use. Some of them are “pill mills” prescribing or supplying such medications knowing that their patients are abusing the medication. And some people with an addiction to pain meds go doctor to doctor to find someone who will prescribe them - Including to pain specialists… Just possibly either the doctor thought OP was just another person looking for pain meds or the doctor was looking for a bribe… There are conditions like arthritis and other conditions that result in chronic pain. It’s a huge problem that pain meds are sometimes abused. That causes problems in getting the medications that might be needed. And those pills can be addictive even when you start out with legitimate usage.
great_nate 26
You needed to ask more questions.