This review is for the pain department at Invision Health, specifically Dr. Salcedo. I have been…read moreutilizing the pain department ever since I became ill with my main chronic illness. I wasn't impressed with Dr. Salcedo in the first place because when he found out I have intense muscle pain in my neck, he suggested I get the nerves in it cauterized. Since that sounded incredibly invasive, I refused and then he passed me off to a PA who was brusque and dismissive. It seems that no one there is capable of empathy or concern for their patients.
I ended up leaving the department a year ago because they were trying to get my money (over $200) so they could prescribe me medical marijuana, even though I already had a prescription from another provider! My PA became so pushy about it and I can afford little due to being on disability, so I decided to find another pain group. ECMC was helping me but the doctor I liked there retired.
Around October of last year, a completely new disease started ruining my life. My baseline was already pain and fatigue, but the symptoms are on a whole new plane and present as a central nervous system disease. I was suffering, so I filled out paperwork again and made an appointment for Dr. Salcedo
The visit was one of the most traumatic things I've gone through. My undiagnosed disease has been filled with terrible symptoms, like constant tremors. After answering questions, Dr. Salcedo told me he'd up the dose of my pain medication. He told me to stand up and complete an assessment. I get really dizzy from going from a sitting to standing position, so once I managed to stand, I held onto the chair and waited for the dizziness to stop. This is when Dr. Salcedo told me to come over to him from across the room, completely impatient even when I told him what was going on.
He pushed and pulled on me while I became more faint. I asked, "give me a second, please," several times, but he was visibility frustrated his exam was taking so long. He intruded on my personal space because I wasn't going fast enough. Then, I got on the examining table and that's where things spiraled out of control.
He had me lie on the table and stretched my muscles while he pressed his hand on my spine. He told me he couldn't examine me because of my limbs flailing about and even did a mean impression of me tremoring. He was roughly manhandling me, but then he did a stretch on my legs and my brain exploded with horrific pain. I screamed and begged, "Please please STOP!!!!" while he pressed hard on my spine and forced me into that excruciating position. I broke down into uncontrollable sobbing and continued saying NO. He looked at me coldly and snarled, "I have to finish my exam!!"
He eventually stopped digging into my back and so I sat up, trying to get off the table. He shoved me down HARD and growled, "I'm not done yet!!" For the rest of the exam, I was sobbing. Hi finally sat me up and declared the exam over (the sharp pain in my legs thought otherwise for a week). He left the room and had said I needed a tox screen before he could give me the dosage I needed. I needed a few minutes before I did the urinalysis because my tears were blinding me.
When I went to the waiting area still crying, I tried to tell my dad about the exam but I was too incoherent. I got called to checkout, where I was told I couldn't have a new appointment until the screen came back. But then, they said Dr. Salcedo was "suggesting" I see the psychologist there, who I'd seen and didn't like. He also had said I needed to get a second opinion from another neurologist, which I did.
The next week, I contacted the staff to ask if my toxicology screen had come back and if I could start the new medication dosage. They replied, "You refused at Checkout to follow Dr. Salcedo's suggestions for you to see the therapist and get a second opinion from a neurologist, so the doctor will not prescribe your meds."
I was (and still am) in horrible pain and would see anyone who'd help, even a guy who tortured me. Clearly, Salcedo had refused care. I was a number to order around in exchange for his unprofessionalism. The man has a God complex and, since his orders were not followed to the letter, he therefore withheld medication from me that would have alleviated my intense daily suffering.
He has no semblance of a bedside manner or empathy and only is willing to help patients who blindly do whatever he tells them. I was a "difficult" patient because I had the audacity to be slow and a chronically ill woman with emotions. If my specialist for my baseline disease wasn't in this building, I wouldn't be willing to drive within a mile radius of the place. I feel so bad for the people he's actually willing to see. If you value your health, run. And if you can't run because of pain? Drive as fast and far away as you can...and definitely don't look back. I recommend this part of Invision Health to sadomasochists only.
