Dr. CA

Dr. CA - Alabama - This is a very successful Doctor of Optometry with a history of severe chronic neck pain after neck surgery and secondary headaches. He had been to a number of previous doctors with no help. I found him to have un-diagnosed Fibromyalgia with Chronic Fatigue, Anxiety, Depression and a severe Migraine-Tension Cervicogenic (Neck) Headaches. His success was that we worked together to get him well again. He had the right attitude of striving to succeed and not giving up. He has also been able to return to his daily work with much greater comfort. He is also planning to return to teaching at seminars and will include a lecture on Fibromyalgia and the effects on the eyes.

Here is his incredible story (October 2001):

"In 1992, I had surgical correction of my cervical [neck] disk. In 1994, I began to have pain again, but it was in my neck muscles, radiating down both shoulders. there was lower back pain too, all of which would fluctuate in intensity. A myelogram was negative and my neurosurgeon said it was adhesions [scars in or around the spinal cord].

I consulted my family doctor and NSAIDS [non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs e.g. Ibuprofen ] were prescribed. They were ineffective and created more problems with my stomach. The pain intensity steadily increased to the point I felt I could no longer tolerate it.

Repeated visits to my family doctor became embarrassing because he could not appreciate the severity of the pain, the randomness of the pain and the total body ache I was experiencing. It was as though my body was bleeding pain through every muscle. Exhaustion and insomnia were nearly an everyday occurrence.

As a doctor, who had been in practice for 25 years, and sees 40 patients a day, I was at the peak of my professional career but I could no longer sustain my work schedule.

On December 22, 2000, I came home after canceling my last two patients and collapsed in my chair and contemplated retirement.

Through an internist-friend, I heard of Dr. Gatell. I called him and after a discussion on the phone, he literally diagnosed my problem then - Fibromyalgia. I saw him 2 days later and within 2 weeks I was better. Since that time, I have resumed a full work-schedule. With my current treatment plan, I am functional once again.

Cured ? No, "cured" is a big word in medicine - Functional, most certainly.

I am no longer depressed about not only my condition, but the lack of understanding by other colleagues.

My deepest thanks to Dr. Gatell, for his help and understanding.

Dr. C.D.A.