"No one is listening to me"...

I was sitting with a new patient who had scheduled for a second opinion.  She had seen a chiropractor, physical therapist, and massage therapist for 5 months.  Her complaint was rib pain. She had been compliant with their plan for 5 months, but the pain was still intense. She was dismissed each time she mentioned her pain. She looked at me and said, "no one is listening to me.  I am in a lot of pain. The treatments aren't working.  They refuse to do more imaging and say that it is the rib and muscle."  I sat and watched the pain in her eyes. She stated that she had a history of migraines, hormone issues, and a significant car accident. I asked her if she was having any gas, bloating, or fatigue.  Immediately, she said yes.  She had never put the symptoms together and had never been asked about any other symptoms.  Immediately, I placed a referral to Gastroenterology, and within weeks, she was in surgery to remove her gallbladder. What looked like musculoskeletal issue was actually tons of gall stones lodged in the gallbladder causing her pain.

Sometimes what feels like symptoms of sleeplessness, upset stomach, muscle pains, or high stress can actually be underlying conditions such as endometriosis, hormone imbalance, Ulcerative Colitis, Hashimoto's, or Gallbladder attacks.  Many conditions can cause referral pain to muscles and joints in our bodies.  Have you ever had a UTI and it showed up as back pain? Did you know that hypothyroid patients have radiating pain into their arms and hands?

Being a woman and treating women, I understand that symptoms of joint pain, muscle aches, migraines, and fatigue is not a single diagnosis.  Womens' bodies are complex.  We are dealing with constant hormonal changes, sleepless nights due to a sick child, and high stress due to caring for everyone while still holding a full time job. What may look like a pinched nerve or chronic tension in the body can have deeper causes.  If your physician disregards you or shrugs off your symptoms, find another physician who listens.  You know your body and what "just doesn't feel right". If you aren't improving with a few weeks of care, there is a deeper situation going on.  At Shaker Women's Wellness, we are here to help.  We will run the labs.  We will order the tests.  We have an amazing network of physicians in Beachwood and the surrounding areas, as well as hormone specialists right in our office that will listen and help you to feel your best. Don't let another day pass that you feel dismissed.  Call us today to schedule a consult at 216-220-8769.