Osteoporosis Medical Ctr

06/04/07

A total disappointment

by bobbylon at Citysearch

I had great hopes Dr. Silverman's care would be first rate as I trust Cedars-Sinai as a great hospital and given his resume saw him as a best-of-breed doctor for the treatment of chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia. He was anything but. After four appointments/four months of enduring chronic pain, I asked if I was ever going to have bloodwork work I had done my homework, knew the different modalities of treatment and new bloodwork was part of getting to the root of my problems. He thought I had it already but prescribed it per me. The following appointment I suggested further bloodwork; he ordered it. My physical therapist recommended an MRI if the range of motion in my neck did not return to normal; it hadn't I asked for an MRI. He answered insurance wouldn't approve it: at the next appointment, he said the PT guy never recommended it. On my own, I had my general practitioner prescribe an MRI. It revealed multiple cervical spine problems which are the #1 trigger for the sudden onset of chronic/fibromyalgia. I talked to a radiologist friend and a pain specialist friend about my options. I called Sillerman for a rheumatologist's insight because he couldn't find my MRI at our last appointment to offer me what wisdom he had to on how I might proceed. He said the findings were serious but a pending emergency prevented him from discussing them with me then. When I talked to him several days later, first he thought he discussed the findings with me, and then said "oh, there's pressure on your spine" and offered me his take on what my best course to remedy my problem. After I talked to my friend the pain Dr., he confirmed given my symptoms that Silverman's suggestion was the wrong way to proceed. Silverman is either in the beginning throes of dementia or just provides inattentive/dismissive care. I'm sorry I stuck with them so long. My health problems are serious and with a proactive care provider I would be closer to recovery than I presently am. Two thumbs down.

• Pros: Maybe he is good for osteoarthritis
• Cons: He is not for chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia