There are 2 hospitals in Seattle(where I live) that do it. Virginia Mason and Swedish. My problem is my neuro is affiliated with UW and will only refer to UW specialists...same with my general physician, twice he's referred me to UW pain specialists.
Shindig,
Do you have to get a referral from your neuro? I have always sought out specialists on my own, but my insurance does not require referrals. Is there anyway you could change either your GP or neuro so you can get the referral you need.
Yes, I called them directly and they wouldn't call my neuro to get the referral. I'm not sure who can refer. I'm not sure which general physicians refer to either of those hospitals, I guess I can call around.
Christine said:
Shindig,
Do you have to get a referral from your neuro? I have always sought out specialists on my own, but my insurance does not require referrals. Is there anyway you could change either your GP or neuro so you can get the referral you need.
Shindig, some insurances require referrals. Regardless of needing a referral or not as I do not need a referral to a specialist on my Medicare Advantage Plan, some specialists do want a referral from a primary or a specialist you have already been receiving treatment from. I have used my neuro and neurosurgeon in the past. Sharon
Shindig: Have you tried calling either of those two hospitals on your own? Maybe either can request records from your doctors and set you up with an appointment. You can't be the only one caught - up in this UW malaise. I'll bet they've dealt with this before.
Shindig said:
There are 2 hospitals in Seattle(where I live) that do it. Virginia Mason and Swedish. My problem is my neuro is affiliated with UW and will only refer to UW specialists...same with my general physician, twice he's referred me to UW pain specialists.
The pain department at the hospitals wouldn't talk to me without a referral from my doctor, didn't even know what insurance I had, and said once they receive a referral, they would look at it and IF you are a candidate, they'd call to schedule.... I begged my general physician and neurologist for a referral to those 2 hospitals, giving them the correct fax number.
A couple days later I got called by UW pain specialist who left a voicemail saying I was referred to them, they don't do the PNS, and the only two places that do are the two hospitals I've been trying to get into.
When I told my neuro about the PNS he was very skeptical.
The place I'd like to go is Virginia Mason Hospital. But I dunno how to find out what physicians refer to them. I guess I could get a referral from them to a general physician.
The first neurologist I went to for TN was Swedish and it was terrible. Terrible doctor, terrible experience all together and 50% more expensive across the board. I'd rather not go back there. They charged $10,200 for an MRI.
I found no help for alternative approaches when dealing with a neurologist. It is my neurosurgeon and pain specialists who are helping me with procedures. Perhaps it would be effective to search the neuroscience dept. at the hospitals to find a surgeon who does them or works with the pain doc who does. Then ask for a referral to that doctor of choice. My neurologist would not ever bend and kept me highly stressed and in pain. I do not see him anymore now that I have the surgeon the pain specialist and my GP working with my pain and I have made a lot of progress. It was not easy to get here. I wish you the strength to preserver thru this PNS process. I have heard that ins. Co. Are not up to speed with the latest and greatest. Even though PNS have been around for decades working miracles. Lots of luck Tree
Tree, I have not checked to see if my insurance covers PNS. It is a Medicare Advantage Plan and unlikely. Also, I posted somewhere on a page here I found a site www.sjm.com where you can get a list of doctors and they are all pain management or neurosurgeon that do this within a 100 mile radius. I have not called anyone yet so I don't know how accurate this is. Neurologists do not do anything invasive. Mine does EMG's and botox. They prescribe meds for the most part and my neuro was not up to speed on this new pain management implant. It is surgery, so definitely neurosurgeons and pain management doctors are doing it. Sharon
Sharon-this is a great resource! great find! I am lucky to have Kaiser because the doctors are allowed to do what they want.
Shindig-My theory is once you get the doctor at the facility who does PNS established, that doctor can help fight the insurance company by submitting the referral for the PNS. I have a question for you because I lived just north of Seattle for 7 years recently. I am now back in CA. But my friend up there keeps telling my about the Yardley Institute, who advertises pain relief for TN. Have you ever looked into them?
Tree
Tree, I never heard of the Yardley Institute, I'll check it out. I live near the U-district :) Moved here from Maryland and love it, but I miss the sun :)
Yes, there is lots to love about Seattle area If you can stay dry. The streets of Seattle in the snow is a nightmare on wheels. I lived in the Cascades, so I do miss my fabulous view. But the cold and damp hurt so much< I am glad to back in sunny Cally. I am doing better managing my pain when the barometric pressure is more stable.
Granny, I have heard members of the Facebook Group " Occipital and Peripheral Nerve Stimulation" have gotten their stims covered by Medicare. If you are on Facebook, request to join the group. There is lots of info there.
Don, I noticed in your discussion that you knew a doc in Dallas that performs the PNS. Do you mind telling me who that is?? Dr. Casey told me that my only option is the Motor Cortex Stimulator. I would like to try the PNS first since it’s so much less invasive. I’m seeing my neurologist tomorrow and I was going to talk to him also.
Thank you everyone, this has been a great discussion to read!!
Donna,Im so sorry,but i don't know /remember the name.Soon after i had my GammaKnife my dr. called me and told me about the procedure.It was a pain clinic in Dallas.I believe one of the partners is my dr.'s brother.His name would be Cole.But it is another dr. having the great success with the PStim.I can call and leave a message with his nurse and see if he gets back to me if you like.He's one of those busy G.P.'s and kinda hard to get hold of.I was floored when he actually called me at home.Made me feel good though.I know he said it was Dallas.That's really all i can recall.
Don, that’s ok. I will try to find some info out. I see my neurologist today. He is in Fort Worth and maybe he can help! Is it neurosurgeons or pain specialist perform the PNS? I called my NS that did both of my MVD’s but he doesn’t. Thanks again.
My GP recommended a pain specialist who did the PNS and it was fairly new to him.He had been using it foe back pain though.There may be neuros doing it also.Good luck!Who is your Ft.Worth guy?I went to Desoloms in Dallas for my Cyber knife.At Presbyterian hospital.They were great.Let me know if you need me to find out about the guy.
Do you think it would help Atypical
Yes, it's for atypical!
Amy Mantrow said:
Do you think it would help Atypical
Then i need to try it for sure,thanks
Absolutely for atypical! We are the ones that do not respond to surgery and if you try something that is offered to you like RF, rhizotomy, not MVD, there is a very high risk of getting worse. Sharon