Greginaz

I hope this is the right forum. Due to a lot of research and positive results from physical therapt begun to believe that a significant amount of my pain is caused by an undiagnosed and possibly curable issue. But my primary care doctor refuses to make the referral that could confirm or rule out this possibility. I can not afford outside care at this time. Is there anything I can do to push the issue and get my suspicions checked. The issue is complicated by the fact that in the past, various specialists have found nothing,probably because I was telling them to look in the wrong place. SHORT VERSION. For the last 23 years I have had knee pain and instability that was not explained adequately, new information suggests it maybe a fixable back or hamstring issue and the doc refuses to check the possibility.

Of Veterans assigned a PCP and clinic.

I was finally able to get a hold of a Patient advocate today and hopefully will be on the right path from this point. As was suggested I will be checking up frequently. Some information to clear up the situation in regards to questions and comments. I was originally enrolled In 2000 and after leaving the hospital feeling there was no point in talking to them one time to many I stoped going and was dropped from the role in 2004. When I called seeking help in July I specifically stated I wanted to keep all health care not realted to my SC injury with my private doctor. The result of this is that no PCP was assigned. After playing the game for awhile I had an appointment where I expressed my frustration with the lack of progress and was referred for a psyche eval. It was this eval that recommended the pain clinic. I have not applied for an increase in benefits becuase everything they have found wrong with me is being dismissed as a birth defect or "that is so minor it cant be causing you pain"

Last October I was referred to the pain clinic but the referral was dropped as I don’t use the VA for primary health care. When I found this out by pulling my records in January I got an appointment in May to interview for a PCP. I met with a very helpful doc who agreed to resend the referral and become my PCP. In June the Nurse practitioner in the pain clinic said I was still not assigned a PCP and she would try to get it straightened. out. Three weeks ago a pain clinic pharmacist sent a request for a medication dosage to be increased. That message went nowhere as I do not have A PCP. Tried again last week and still not getting a response. Saturday I run out of this medicine and can not see the Doc until 25 AUG. I cannot get a hold of a patient advocate as they are rarely available in the office and have not returned any of my calls since this started. I would really appreciate suggestions of what to do next The medication is Gabapentin if that makes a difference

Sorry, the diagnosis is based on x-rays done by the VA during a treatment for a recent flair up

I did report some pain in a couple of joints other than my one knee that is currently rated. however no follow up was done on this. I understand that altered gait, from the knee injury, can result in early onset arthritis, and am trying to figure out how to find out if is the case for me.

Fourteen years ago I was medically discharged due to knee problems. I submitted to the VA for disability six years later and was granted ten percent for damage to the medial meniscus, with a provision for recognizing instability in the knee. Now I have arthritis in every joint in my lower body and lower back. My question is what do I need to do to find out if the arthritis is a secondary effect of my damaged knee, and not just old age (at 35) like the VA docs are telling me it is. I know I would need a nexus report at some point but is this where I should begin? If it is the beginning point should I just ask the VA or go to an independent examiner?