ScottForsyth
Peer Supporter
Although I have had many disheartening remarks from doctors, neurologists and physiotherapists, there are especially two experiences that stand out to me.
The first experience was in my summer holiday last year. I had been in excruciating pain in my hands and arms. I was practicing all the recommend treatments by mainstream doctors, but nothing worked! I was frustrated and felt hopeless. So, a few days before I had to go back to high-school, I went to see a doctor within the period of "acute time" (i.e. a period where the patients drop in unannounced, since they are in extreme pain or deeply worried about symptoms). I was in A LOT of pain and I could not stand the thought of being back in the classroom enduring the pain of typing on a computer. I finally arrived at the doctor and waited with my father. I greeted the doctor and explained my pain, spasms and tingling. He did not seem to care. I described my symptoms for maximum 1 minute, and then the doctor went on to lecture me about that I was wasting his time. He did not offer any diagnosis or help and send me off. This was heartbreaking for me to hear, I was 18 years old in extreme pain. I was depressed and did not see any hope for the future.
My second experience was with my first physiotherapist. At first I felt hopeful, since I had not yet tried physiotherapy. Although, after only three sessions I explained that "my pain was the same". He simply replied "sorry, there is nothing I can do". He was obviously correct, he could not help me, but he took away what I thought was my last hope for treatment. I had already seen various other specialists and I had found no relieve. I was completely devastated, I locked myself in to the bathroom of the building quietly crying. I truly believed that I would this pain for the rest of my life.
The first experience was in my summer holiday last year. I had been in excruciating pain in my hands and arms. I was practicing all the recommend treatments by mainstream doctors, but nothing worked! I was frustrated and felt hopeless. So, a few days before I had to go back to high-school, I went to see a doctor within the period of "acute time" (i.e. a period where the patients drop in unannounced, since they are in extreme pain or deeply worried about symptoms). I was in A LOT of pain and I could not stand the thought of being back in the classroom enduring the pain of typing on a computer. I finally arrived at the doctor and waited with my father. I greeted the doctor and explained my pain, spasms and tingling. He did not seem to care. I described my symptoms for maximum 1 minute, and then the doctor went on to lecture me about that I was wasting his time. He did not offer any diagnosis or help and send me off. This was heartbreaking for me to hear, I was 18 years old in extreme pain. I was depressed and did not see any hope for the future.
My second experience was with my first physiotherapist. At first I felt hopeful, since I had not yet tried physiotherapy. Although, after only three sessions I explained that "my pain was the same". He simply replied "sorry, there is nothing I can do". He was obviously correct, he could not help me, but he took away what I thought was my last hope for treatment. I had already seen various other specialists and I had found no relieve. I was completely devastated, I locked myself in to the bathroom of the building quietly crying. I truly believed that I would this pain for the rest of my life.
But thankfully those practitioners are in your past, and you are now on the right track, so Welcome, and keep us posted!