Something changed at Doctor Matarese's office:
I fell in December and injured my right hand (dominant). I waited a few weeks and hoped it would get better on its own. No such luck. I saw the doctor and he diagnosed it as a nerve issue and put me on anti-inflammatory meds. The pain got worse and I started to lose the ability to use my hand. For example, I couldn't twist door knobs or open bottles without shooting pain. After a while, I was unable to write or sign my name normally.
A few weeks later, I went back to the doctor. I was in the waiting room for 45 minutes, finally got called to the exam room where I waiting another 45 minutes. For 30 of those 45 minutes, a new employee I have never seen before was pacing in the hallway between the exam rooms. She had dark straight haired, medium height, Caucasian and wore a white lab coat (it wasn't Patrizia). While pacing back and forth, she was carrying on a conversation with the office staff, laughing and joking loudly. It was irritating, but whatever.
Her and the doctor came in the room, she stood with her back to me at the computer the whole time. The doc wanted to keep me on the meds, in hopes it would improve. I tried explaining it was getting worse. He asked "Are you in pain now?" to which I answered "No, but that because I'm just sitting here. It only hurts when I use my hand, which is all the time because I'm right handed". The doctor then starting speaking with the women, as she typed notes into the computer, and he said "patient exhibits no pain", then he was called out of the exam room to answer a phone call.
So, with the doctor out of the room, I asked "Let me ask you, am I being clear that I am in pain, which can be excruciating at times when I use my hand?" I felt as if I wasn't communicating effectively with the doctor. With her back to me, she turned her head slightly and responded "Ahhh, Yeah!". Ok, a bit rude I thought, but once again, whatever.
As the doctor entered the room, she stopped him at the door and said "He wants to make sure you understand that he is in excruciating pain". She over emphasized the word "excruciating" as she dragged out the sentence. I was mortified as she was clearly mocking me. The doctor paused, looked at her over his reading glasses with a quizzical look. I think even he was surprised. After a moment of silence, he simply responded with "uhm, yeah, ok" and changed the subject. The doctor was called out of the room two more times, but finally I pointed out a mass on my hand that wasn't there before the injury. He ordered an MRI.
I wasn't going back to that office to be mocked again. I took the results to another nearby orthopedic. The MRI results showed soft tissue damage in my hand. I wore a splint for a few weeks and then I was fine.
I do believe Matarese is a great doctor. Patrizia the PA and Diane the x-ray tech are wonderful people and excellent healthcare providers. It's always a pleasure dealing with them. Unfortunately, after seeing the doctor for six years, I don't think I'll be back. I hope the person I met that day is retrained in patient care, customer service and common sense. read more