You know, it is really difficult to find a doctor that you think you can get along with and trust, and I actually thought I had that with Dr. Romero. Awkwardly, I thought I had that with Dr. Romero *even though* he had kind of "strung me along" for almost a year with what turned out to be a sacroiliac joint issue despite him (apparently) being someone who specialized almost uniquely in hips... and he knew I was at the wrong doctor, but just kept assigning me to physical therapy anyway :/. (I ended up experiencing a full year of pain over this issue with massively decreased mobility; once I figured out what was actually wrong, which I figured out working with other people, I was able to achieve essentially a full recovery within a few weeks.) I just really *actually* like the guy! He had always made me feel calm. However, recently, I finally went to go see him in order to ask a question *about an actual hip* (!)--I went back to him because he knew me, and because I felt like I *liked him* despite it "probably being kind of stupid to see him again". I was also maybe-weirdly kind of excited to see him with a very directed hip question, and I expecting it to be a very fast appointment--maybe even like 10 minutes--wherein he would be able to confidently reassure me as to the issue not really being a big deal (and likely due to spending too much time sitting alone inside during the pandemic) with maybe another referral to physical therapy (which this time is what I actually wanted); but, then, I was told only once I arrived at the office that they were going to demand that I take an X-ray on the spot before I could see the doctor, something that wasn't disclosed to me when I'd made the appointment. I just was not comfortable with this, particularly given how I "at worst" expected to learn that I needed to see someone else anyway (and "at best" didn't really have a problem). I was there, I was willing to pay for an appointment, and I wanted to see my doctor I had been seeing for a year and a half now... but, no: I was then pressured by multiple staff members, one of which trying to throw around a pretty weighty feeling of authority, with the strongest argument being that if the doctor felt he needed the X-ray no one would be around to give it to later... as if this was all some kind of ridiculous rush, and I couldn't just come back at another time for another appointment (hell: I had already waited a long time for this appointment, and I had told everyone I talked to that I was in no hurry for it). The fact that I wasn't comfortable with this sudden change of protocol and expectation in the heat of the moment should have been sufficient :/. If you are going to insist on an X-ray, disclose that to people before the appointment. I dunno... I just feel like doctors should work for patients, and that they should attempt to work with their sensitivities and emotions, not try to control them :(. Sadly, I have had to come to realize that Dr. Romero and his staff are no different or better than other people in this field. In retrospect, that I even considered seeing Dr. Romero again was stupid, and the real mistake was that I ever went to see him in the first place (as I bet that, had I not, I could have avoided at least six months on my previous issue, and my life would be in a much better place today). read more