I injured my back 12 years ago and had it all fixed up with surgery and with follow up physical therapy months later. Unfortunately, I injured my back again and I know more that one should need to know about the spine and discs (at least from my experiences 12 years ago). I'm a proactive patient, and I will conduct my research, but I didn't have the time this time around. My doctor from 12 years ago, has his first available appointment 7 weeks from today (he's really good), but he is also a 2 hour drive from me. I started searching on the net and it seems that pain management doctors are generally booked in advance.
The office is located on the 2nd floor of the Sibley Hospital medical building in suite 210. The front desk and staff were friendly and very accommodating. I was able to get an appointment with Dr. Palak Turakhia with in a few days of my phone call. I found her to be cold and distant. My initial consult did not go very well. I asked her if she heard of a drug called Chymopapain. She did not. I explained to her that it was a drug that was readily available in the USA up and until 10 years ago and that it is still readily available worldwide. Also that I learned about it from my first doctor who thought it was be the right treatment for me, but I would have to travel to Germany to have it administered. The drug works to shrink the disk thereby giving the nerves more room which will intern eliminate the pain. (Thinking to myself as I looked at her very young looking appearance) I then asked her, "How old are you?" Under normal social circumstances I can see how that would be inappropriate, but when you give the doctor all your private information about your past and share that level of intimacy, I don't see how asking your age is in violation of patient doctor communication. I was thinking that since she "specializes" in this type of medicine, I thought she would have heard of it since it was only recently that Chymopapain was removed from the US market. It turns out that she graduated from medical school in 2006, which explains why she didn't know what I was talking about. (I don't care that she is young, if she's good and can make me well that's all that should count, but there is more to being a doctor than a medical degree.) I asked, are you at least 40?, she scoffed at my question and asked, "what are you doing here?" As if I were inconveniencing her and her life. I told here I was her to get an opinion and a treatment option for me to return to a normal active life. I asked her if she could read my MRI and let me know if she thought that pain blockers would just be a waste of time or should I take another approach. Would minimally invasive surgery be an option. Is the drug mentioned earlier still off the market or is there something similar. What is the latest technique to make me well. In a flippant, she gave me options, but still not looking at my MRI first before suggesting anything. Finally, I said, you are not exuding confidence to me, and I think I'll have to find a different doctor with more experience. She said, "not in this practice." This could have been handled much differently. One of the other things that bothered me about this doctor is her use of the word "like". You could "like" do this or you could "like" try this.
I said, "fine then." I left the exam room and as I was walking by the front desk, I told the woman what happened. She apologized (which was not necessary) and asked if I would like to see a different doctor. I said, "I would, but I was told by Dr. Turakhia, that I would not be allowed to see one."
I would love to rate this place a 5. I would love it if this doctor had a better mannerisms and more experience, but that is, she does not. Now, I would just like a refund for my co-pay, my parking fee returned to me and I'd like an hour's worth of my life back, but since that is not possible, I'd like to bill them 1 hour of my time. read more