My first time experiencing medical gaslighting was unfortunately here at happy feet. My foot infection went on longer than it should have and I sought for care elsewhere as the pain was unbearable. Turned out I had MRSA staph infection.
I came to Happy Feet because of its raving yelp reviews and started seeing Dr. Lords for several months... And each visit made me doubt his level of care. My last visit on 9/28/23 was a confirmation that I needed to find a new podiatrist.
I received my second steroid shot on Tuesday and it was very painful. At night, I woke up every 3 hrs in pain and the swelling was worse each day, I could tell something was off.
Wednesday I emailed Dr. Lords pictures of my foot and he called me saying it didn't look like an infection. Thursday morning I called to come in because the pain was unbearable. As I was in the waiting room, I heard him make a comment to a staff member on how I was able to walk in if my pain level was noted at a "7". When he saw me, I explained how I wanted antibiotics as the pain was increasing. I explained that I felt sharp radiating pain on the sole and arch of my foot. He dismissed it and said it was because of the way I was walking that caused the discomfort. He continued to suggest it was a cortisone flare and made various remarks about how it wasn't an infection, "I'm 80% sure this isn't an infection but a flare..."
I asked what my options were for immediate relief. He suggested soft tissue removal surgery and I was hesitant about it and inquired about other non invasive methods. He didn't have any for me.
As I was about to leave, he spoke harshly to his employee. He asked if she took my temperature and told her to (as it was missing on the form). "Look at me when I'm trying to tell you something..." the words and tone used were very uncomfortable for me to witness as a patient, I felt so bad for her, I hope she finds work elsewhere.
He prescribed me amoxicillin and when I arrived at my pharmacy, they said they haven't received anything. I called his office and the front desk staff said he hasn't gotten to it and that he usually sends them over at the end of the day (which would've been 5pm, I came in at 9am). I was livid and looked for a new podiatrist.
I luckily got an appt the same day at 1:45pm, immediately the new Dr said it looked like I had abscess in the swelling and he drained it. There was so much pus coming out, he couldn't believe it. He said surgery wasn't necessary and I felt immediate relief on my foot and my mental state.
My experience overall:
-Each visit, it seemed like the treatment options for me were to have an expensive procedure, surgery or to buy products. I felt like he was pushing unnecessary things to make money.
-He made inappropriate comments during the visit, ie he'd say jokes about the girth of the needle mattering more as opposed to its length, before he administered my first steroid shot. Who still thinks these jokes are actually funny?
-He was demeaning to his employee right in front of me which I thought was very unprofessional and humiliating.
-He scoffed at the level of pain I documented, I could hear him clearly comment on it to his workers as I was in the waiting room.
-Most importantly, I didn't feel heard as a patient and his negligent care led my foot to being infected longer than it should have.
I cannot imagine having gone the surgical route with him, and I am concerned to see his practice still operating if his behavior does not change. read more