I am a bit upset. I had my first appointment with a local neurologist today. He told me with listening to my symptoms or issues and within 3 minutes...my problems were not caused by chiari (6mm). He touched my neck and asked does this hurt (no), then my shoulders (yes)...then said this is muscle pain. I told him, that I have other symptoms and he said, he needed an MRI of my neck first and maybe a sleep study. He kept asking did I understand, I said Yes and left. I felt bewildered and hurt. I am tired of feeling like no one believes me. Then as I sat in the waiting room waiting on my appointment card for the MRI, I noticed the doctors focus is on pain management and sleep studies. I told my husband I am not doing the sleep study, but I will have the MRI of my neck done, only because I will need this for the next doctor I see...because this one is not for me. Any doctor that does not take the time to listen to me, I don't need to see.
I am looking for a chiari specialist in the Houston Texas area. I have seen the doctor list, but if you know of any others that would be helpful.
Sorry fat fingers sending to early, oops he’s a ns maybe call his office and ask for a neurologist you will find that apathy none of us have a positive experience with the nl but sometimes they are needed find one you can stand. Now neurosurgeons is Kim dong in Houston he is supposed to be wonderful and if I don’t have any better luck here in the next few ns I meet here in SA I’m coming there :D. Keep your chin up its a process of our patience also man let me tell ya!!!
Ugh, I am sorry to hear that. It seems like everyone has to have at least one of those doctors before finding one who understands and cares. Hopefully you'll find your right doctor soon!
I’m in the Houston area. I see Dr Rob Parrish at Methodist in the medical center. Surgery scheduled feb 19. I think both him and his residents had wonderful bedside manner and I feel very confident with him doing my surgery. I went for a second opinion with Dr. Yeh, who was recommended by the Chiari foundation, he said Dr. Parrish is the one to do the surgery. He said if he needed to have it done, he would be his man. I am a nurse who works for a prominent neurologist who also said Dr Parrish is the best. He took all the time in the world with us and answered every question and didn’t rush us once. Hope this helps! What NS did you see?
Sounds like the first one I saw too! Was there for 15 minutes and although he at leas acknowledged chiari and m pain and symptoms, i walked out with a sleep study, trigger point injections, and two different biofeedback therapists appointments! Needless to say I canceled them all after seeing in the office and website that they are part of a sleep study center, and my doctor have numerous articles on biofeedback therapy for pain management and insomnia.. hmm the same places he wanted me to go. I felt like I was at a used car sales lot!
Good luck to you! I hope you find a good one that will listen
I saw Dr. Kumar in Victoria whose focus is on pain management and sleeping disorders (I learned this after the appointment). I have since made an appointment with Dr. Parrish, so I'm hopeful. Thank you for your help!
Rachel said:
I'm in the Houston area. I see Dr Rob Parrish at Methodist in the medical center. Surgery scheduled feb 19. I think both him and his residents had wonderful bedside manner and I feel very confident with him doing my surgery. I went for a second opinion with Dr. Yeh, who was recommended by the Chiari foundation, he said Dr. Parrish is the one to do the surgery. He said if he needed to have it done, he would be his man. I am a nurse who works for a prominent neurologist who also said Dr Parrish is the best. He took all the time in the world with us and answered every question and didn't rush us once. Hope this helps! What NS did you see?
Don’t bother with anyone else unless his name I’d Dr Dong Kim! He’s in the med center at mamirial Herman. I had surgery 2 weeks ago. I was lucky to find him as my first Dr. After the first visit and him looking at my MRI he set surgery fir a few weeks later. He actually apologized for not being able to get me in sooner! He’s did 50 of these surgeries last year. He was in charge of Gabriella’s recovery. (Senate that was shot in the head). Tell him I sent you
Agree with all the above statements but wanted to make a medical clarification about the sleep study.
Most patients with sleep apnea have peripheral sleep apnea(due to weight issues, large tonsils, etc).
However, a sleep study can be used to distinguish between peripheral and central sleep apnea. Central sleep apnea can be a sign that there is pressure on your brainstem, which can cause irreversible damage. I use central sleep apnea as a criteria to push me toward recommending surgery. In children, who may not be able to verbalize their symptoms, it is one of the more reliable study of symptoms. I would say a sleep study is similar to a cine MRI. Not everyone needs one but, if you are on the fence, it can push you in the direction of surgery.
Thank you for clarification on the sleep study! Since the NL was not willing to listen to my issues, I assumed he had his own interests in mind. I have since found a NS that is knowledgeable in Chiari Malformations, upon talking with them they asked that I wait to have any additional studies done until after I have seen him.
This is kind of a funny conversation my husband says since I have started showing symptoms now I snore horribly I used to not snore at all unless I was ill.
my first neurologist told me that it was just stress and i needed to see a councelor but after going to a few more I found one that was willing to try to help.
