Dr. Joshi is the most unprofessional doctor I've ever encountered.
When I had my first visit with Dr. Joshi in October of 2011, he was gruff and unwilling to listen to any details. However, he was willing to take immediate action, so I put up with him. I have a chronic headache and Fibromyalgia, and I was changing from Austin Pain Associates (who are also awful.) Dr. Joshi was unwilling to address any of my other questions at that visit. All he was going to do that day was prescribe a new medicine. He said we would talk about the next steps and the overall plan at my next visit.
The next visit, a PA walked in. An incredibly frustrating PA, who managed to dodge all my questions. She wouldn't advise me on whether I could take alcohol with this new medicine, about the long term effects of taking this medication, what to do with breakthrough pain or what lifestyle changes I should make to help the Fibromyalgia. After several visits I had a breakthrough. She told me how likely it was that one of my other pain medications was causing drowsiness.
After asking about what to do about my chronic headache, which the medicine hadn't helped at all, I finally got an answer from a doctor I had never seem before. Long story short, he prescribed an invasive treatment that was not approved by the FDA for headaches. After my insurance turned it down, I decided not to get the treatment, and I didn't appeal it.
I did ask about a nerve block that had been helpful in the past, but not a cure. Once again, it was an improvement
At my January appointment, I managed to convince the PA to *finally* let me see Dr. Joshi again so I could ask questions and talk about the next step. As soon as we (my mother and I) said hello, Dr. Joshi became belligerent, accusing us of all sorts of things and not giving us a chance to respond.
Some of the things he said included:
1. He had given me two options, the medicine and an option that I had refused. (The one that was not approved by the FDA.) That was all he was going to offer. I could talk about it all day long, but nothing could change his mind, and he wasn't going to do anything else. (l wish I knew that this was my last option when I made my decision.)
2. The non-FDA approved treatment was recommended by my PCP. When we said she hadn't, he interupted with "Oh yes she did."
3. I should stop doing my own research and seeking out second opinions. He wanted to "limit my universe."
4. I had "forced" the PA to approve the nerve block (which Dr. Joshi himself had performed) and he wasn't going to give me anymore injections. (Never mind that the PA talked about doing more injections and nerve blocks just before he walked in. And the last nerve block made me feel better.)
5. The rest of my treatment was psychological. This is true, and I have been working with a counselor. However, as I stormed out the door after the part about "forcing" the PA, he asked my Mom to have my counselor call him. (She didn't dignify him with an answer.) As if me walking out on his verbal abuse was a sign that *I* was the crazy one.
We spent the whole visit trying to defend ourselves, but he would talk over us before we could explain. I didn't even begin to ask my questions.
I had no intention of asking for radical treatments. I was surprised by the PAs offer of more nerve blocks. I wanted to understand what we were already doing. I wanted to know about the next steps that we both discussed. He left the door open at my last appointment, never told us he closed it and then berated us for not knowing.
Ironically, I wanted him to "limit my universe" by telling me about the most effective lifestyle changes for Fibromyalgia, like the best forms of exercise, OTC supplements, heating pads, ice packs and massage. There is a lot of information out there.
The other ironic thing is that I had no intention of asking for another opinion, but after this encounter, I probably will.
Update: My PCP told me Dr. Joshi sent her a note after the incident saying that I wanted more injections. Not even close. Where did he get that from? read more
