Si joint injection
I am back with good and bad news. The good I made it through my si joint injection. Wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be. let’s see if I get any relief. Now with the bad. My primary won’t give me a referral to a rheumatologist because I started this injections. She said this shot will help with all my pain and doesn’t believe I could have AS!! I need a new primary and now I wish I didn’t start this steroid injection plan. Ugh I am at a complete list for words. I am on the hunt for a good Dr and someone that’ll actually listen to me!! I even printed out the as brochure and brought it with to help her understand what I am dealing with. She just strait dismissed it and me and sent me on my way. What an absolute waste of my time and money ugh I am so lost 😞 and mad 😡. I don’t think I’ll ever get the help I need!!
I'm so sorry to hear about your frustrating dealings with the doctor.
Having to advocate for yourself can be emotionally draining and really discouraging at times, but don't give up! Your future self will be so thankful for all the efforts you're putting in now to get the answers and treatment you deserve.
Realising you need a different doctor is a great first step. People often post on the forum or in AS facebook groups sharing their location and asking if others with AS in their general area can recommend a doctor. This might be a way you could get some information on a professional with a good understanding of AS rather than just randomly trying someone new.
In the meantime, here's hoping you get some relief from the injection. Just breathe and give yourself a minute, then get back to work finding the help you need.
Everyone here has your backeven when you're facing challenges being heard out there. Hang in there!
All the best,
Anne-Marie (Patient Leader)
AS is one of the most difficult disease to diagnose. Since there is no definitive blood test it is always based on what doctors believe. The most important thing in my opinion is to find a good rheumatologist. It is so important that you start there. Until a Rheumatologist says you have it, all doctors are of equal opinion. Just ask them.
that’s the problem. She won’t give me a referral to the rheumatologist. She doesn’t believe the AS thing at all and says a referral to the rheumatology isn’t happening. Around here you have to have a referral to get into see one. So I am stuck without that referral even though my insurance doesn’t even require a referral. The referral requirement from the actual business is the issue as well. I gues. I gotta try 3 hrs south of me to Boston because a lot of them don’t require a referral is what I am hearing.
