Personally I found a unique combination of specialists after a couple years of major struggles
My neurologist integrates Eastern and Western medicine into his practice. His office offers acupuncture, massage, yoga therapy and classes, NAET, homeopathy, nutrition, as well as Western medicine
He and my pain management physician ultimately recommended my rheumatologist, who also embraces all treatment options. I have struggled through many alternative treatments just as I have medications. Having a larger tool chest to work from had been paramount. I am only a newbie- diagnosed end of August. Best of luck!!
Go ahead and see psychologist for a few reasons. 1) after getting to know you they can toss it back in the lazy doctors faces who did not take you serious. So you can get the pleasure of having some one they recommend tell them it is not in your head! 2) Pain does effect us emotionally as you express how it is now effecting your marriage and has your job. So if you go it as they requested, it is only going to benefit you as long as you get someone you trust. I have noticed I do much better having that support and plus skills they can teach you.
If you get a counselor or psychologist whom you do not bond with then it is waste of both your times. Just let them know after you have given it few visits how you feel and if they could please recommend someone that will be a better fit for you. Any decent Doctor or Counselor should get this since they often do it themselves with patients...just they may say so and so specializes in more your area. So do not worry about offending them and of course say it as kindly as possible even if guy is real jerk...just will work to your benefit.
Believe me i know about Doctors not believing in your disease. When i first was diagnosed with SLE,lupus, most doctors did not know about it and public even less. Everyone at my work just thought it was cool i had disease named after wolves since i studied them.
Most doctors had their own opinions about it one way or another. My internist and the Rheum we finally found(they also were very rare doctors back than) both told me to tell the jerk ones to call them since they diagnosed it and leave me alone. They can discuss it with them. That did and still does shut them up.
I am sorry Aloha that you are having such a hard time. I am also trying to find a doctor i do not have to drive 3 hours plus too...but i leave out in boonies so that is price i am paying.
Also for Naturopathic Doctor ask if they have hospital privileges or you are going to be left with what ever doctor is on call and that is a real pain. My did not and it just was not worth it considering all the different doctors i saw in matter of 24 hours(over 3)...having to tell them my complete history which is long. I was septic so very sick. So you need to weigh how important it is if your doctor has hospital rights..and if they are at the hospital you prefer. So that is something else to consider.
oh yes the doctor referred to it as myofacial pain as well. Thanks for the links!
I do see the link thank you! I actually saw one that was not on the list, so I will book an appointment with one of those.
oh yay! someone else in the same city as me! How are you liking this cold weather we are having? makes my joints ache so much! but I suppose if it isn't one thing, it's another anyway, so I will focus on the positives.
thanks! i did not know there were any groups for that. i am certainly going to find one!
all of the treatments they are giving you sound wonderful. i hope i can find a doctor that can do those things.
I did not make myself clear and I apologize. If you look up at heading and click on Doctors that is where you can find ideas about how to find a good doctor as well as good doctor's names. I would post that you are looking, area and what kind of doctor you would like.
One excellent point is to ask how long does the doctor book for each average patient. Since many now are only giving us 10 minutes which is not long enough and just getting greedy. So look at some and get some ideas than you can say more precisely what you would ideally have in a doctor.
They are out there...i have actually had more good rheum doctors etc than bad ones.... i have been lucky!
Hope you find one ..do not give up if it takes few years..just plug away. Happy Holidays!