Q: I am sorry this is going to be a long question, but i could really use some positive feedback...I have been struggling with lower back and leg pain for nearly a year now. I was initially diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, and was sent to too many doctors that were condescending and just pushed more pills at me. I have been taking 6 medicines just for neurological pain for over 6 months. none of these medications have helped, even a little bit. I was finally referred to a spine specialist, who never even examined me physically, he just looked at my mri from april and said i did have some degeneration in my lower back but not enough to require surgery. I presented with this pain and another symptom I am having a hard time dealing with.... I am 31 years old and have been bed wetting and incontinence problems daytime. so bad that i don't leave the house for fear of peeing my pants at the grocery store or somewhere... So this specialist tells me that since my problem isn't bad enough for surgery that "I will just have to live with it" and about the peeing issue he said, "some women have this problem, there isn't really a good way of curing or even helping this situation." I left feeling very dejected. I would give a million dollars to have a doctor that would just sit down with me and listen to all the medical problems i have and actually try to help. i am ok with no set diagnosis and would be grateful of trying to fix one issue at a time. What advice do you have for me? Also about 6 months back i was referred to a rheumatology clinic for the neuropathic pain of fibromyalgia. it took 5 months just to get an initial consultation with this clinic. should i go ahead and go for hopes that they may be able to help? All I know is that i am in pain that at least 3 days out of the week incapacitates me for the whole day. my house and husband are suffering from not enough attention...although my husband understands and is my biggest fan and knows he cant help medically but can help with dishes and such. its so bad that i have to sit on a bench to take a shower. i cant even stand that long. i think that my condition has dramtically gotten worse since april and maybe i would like another mri to see what the spines condition is now... or even maybe some nerve conductive testing. which is painful, but i would be willing to do it if it helped someone to see that i am not just a hypochondriac. I have even been diagnosed as having munchausen syndrome. what can i do or say that could make a doctor sit up and take notice? i am at the point where i would be grateful if someone would just believe me. please help.....
A: Keep the appointment you made even though it's a long way away. These are the guys that can help you. You are not a hypochondriac, nor do you have Munchhausen syndrome. This is real, my sister has fibromyalgia. However, when doctors are not sure of a problem when it comes to the bones, they seem to give a lot of people that diagnosis. This is not normal that you are incontinent all the time. I too suffer from severe back pain, but you've got me beat. I know it's hard, but be patient and keep looking for a real doctor that cares. What I found helpful when I've come across a situation like that is go on line, and find a doctor near you that can help you. They ask where you live, how old of an MD you want. They will even give you his/her credential if you want, Like what school they did their training at, grades, everything.You may even need to see a kidney specialist. this other problem could be totally unrelated to the arthritis you have. I hate a doctor that says "live with it" Yeah, let him live with it and see how he last. Ignorant creep. I've been there, Can you tell? I sure hope you get some answers along with a caring doctor.