My primary physician sent me here for an epidural in my neck area due to problems from an impinged…read morenerve showing up in my neck area on a ct scan and radiology report, I have pain, headaches, dizziness, faintness, nausea, numbing down right arm, thumb, and forefinger. Also my history of a herniated disc in my lower back which I did have an epidural on several years before by a different doctor, now some pain there is coming back and both feet are becoming numb.
During my wait in the waiting room I observed both doctors, Sanel, and Cosijns, appearing very unhappy and rude to everyone, they had mad looks or scowling looks on their faces as if they were fighting, and it affected the staff and the patients in the waiting room as well. It felt like a fearful uncomfortable atmosphere, I wanted to leave but I stayed.
When I was interviewed on this first appointment by Dr. Sanel, about my condition, he was like a rude drill Sargent, only allowing me to speak when he asked a specific question as he was taking notes. He told me we were to talk only about only one thing specifically. He wouldn't allow me to speak about any of my other symptoms, so I chose my impinged neck nerve, and told him my PCP agreed with my request that I needed an epidural, so that's what I came there for.
Dr. Sanel instead gave me a prescription for a non narcotic drug named Cymbalta and sent me on my way telling me to begin with a small dose for a while, then go to the higher dose and come back in a few weeks and follow-up with the other doctor in his office (Anne-Marie Cosijns, his wife).
After I was taking this nightmare drug I found out it had many side effects which it was causing me to have that I was not informed of. And I also found out you will become dependent on this drug, and cannot just stop taking it cold turkey or it will cause headaches and more side effects. This drug was a nightmare for me!
So after dealing with all the effects of the drug during the few months I was taking it, I returned to the office to see doctor Cosijns, I told her about all of the problems it was causing and I needed to stop taking it, she told me to do so by ramping down the dosage slowly over a period of about 5 weeks.
Then she asked me if I wanted an epidural! I was in disbelief, I just looked at her and said that's what I came here for originally, and now you ask me after all this I have been through for the last few months? I said NO, I'll let you know some day after I get off this drug!
I never went back there, and would discourage anyone from going there, I also let my primary physician know he referred me to these doctors and how they treated me. I choose to live with my problems and am slowly allowing my brain to adjust to them, it seems to help slightly.
My advice is to stay away from this place if you can, find another pain center with courtesy, that cares about you and your needs!
Rob
