Dr. Darrell Hanson - Houston, TX

[txmarinemom]

PNUTTRO, I've emailed him and he doesn't reply. He gets someone in his of staff to call usually. ...

And, I do NOT like being made to feel like a liar when I tell a specialist in the field that I have pain!!!!

Tomorrow (February 5th, 2009) will be my one year fusion anniversary by Hanson.

Ann, I have never known him to leave a coherent, purposeful email unanswered. He *always* writes me back, but I also try not to bug him with things John or Pete can answer.

Also, I NEVER had problems with pain/med management (I'm still on Valium, Gabapentin and 2 Norco in the mornings, FYI. He's STILL managing it a year out). Then again, there's some credence to what people are saying here about pain management doctors: They manage pain ... period. Hanson KNEW I'd seen one for 4 years, and he knew *I* knew what my body could handle ... and that I have an *extremely* high tolerance to pain meds. He has always managed my pain taking all that into consideration.

Hanson told me on my VERY FIRST consult that he believes scoliosis can *absolutely* cause pain. It sounds a bit like you went in telling him what protocol to follow. (Shelokov's?)

I'm not sure why you think Zanaflex is stronger than Soma. I also don't understand why you were on 2 muscle relaxers at the same time before (especially 2 that have moderate risk of interaction), but that's neither here nor there.

As a patient of his, I'm pretty put off by your "thumbs down" (because of an apparent personality conflict), and hope people aren't turned away due to your poor opinion of an excellent surgeon formed in TWO visits. PNUTTRO and both are surgical patients of his - not consults - and neither of us have anything bad to say about him. I'm really puzzled how the person you describe is so vastly different than how the 50+ some odd patients (pre/post consult and pre/post op) of his who've emailed me have felt they were treated. There's something missing here.

He's attentive, compassionate, and he does care. He sat with me for over two hours - answering questions - when I was trying to decide on surgery. TWO HOURS. And I know the man doesn't have two hours to spare. Never once did he rush me, nor did he ever look at the clock.

You didn't say what you emailed him, but if it was as negative/frantic as your post (after 2-1/2 weeks of calming down???), maybe that's a factor in why he didn't answer. He's NEVER had staff call when I send an email to his personal address.

Perhaps as has been said, he's not the doctor for you; certainly, you should get a pain management doctor. He did fantastically with me pre-op and post-op, and my post op pain management protocol was VERY aggressive due to my tolerance. In the first few days after surgery, it took Percodan, Norco and Dilaudid PCA to keep me comfortable - and at levels that would probably drop a 300 lb. man.

I think it's a bit irresponsible of you to tell this list he can't/won't handle a patient's pain because he wouldn't give you the meds you wanted. From my experience, I'd counter he takes pain very seriously, and manages it well based on patient needs.

Anyone who has questions for an actual surgical patient of his is welcome to email me.

Regards,
Pam

[WNCmom]

congratulations

Pam--

Just want to congratulate you on your one year post-op mark. It's been quite a year!

Mary Ellen

[txmarinemom]

Just want to congratulate you on your one year post-op mark. It's been quite a year!

Thanks, Mary Ellen - and, yes, it certainly has been. It's not one I regret (not even for one minute), but not one I'd particularly care to repeat - LOL! Given the same scenario, however, I'd make the same choices.

A year ago, I had no REAL knowledge of what my limitations would be post-op, and I'm glad to say today I have NONE (other than morning creakiness - and maybe that's from 40 years of banging up my body).

I certainly didn't think I'd be anxiously waiting for the water to warm up enough so I can wakeboard! ;-).

Regards,
Pam

[Houston Curves]

Wow, Pam...

Wow, Pam. I'm sorry to have offended you so much. I am entitled to my opinion, and NO, my email merely answered his question about what meds I was on. That's it. I didn't insist in him following Shelokov's protocals and was VERY open to new meds his PA suggested, but they never called them in. Then they refused to fix the quantities on the ONE that we discussed that they had called in. That was a big issue for me. I'm very sorry that bothers you.

As a side note, I did try to remove/edit the thumbs down after reading everyone's posts about pain management drs., but was not able to remove it. However, that isn't the point. I am sorry that you are so angry about my opinions. He has been resistant, in my situation, to hear about my pain and does not seem sensitive to my issues. That is a fact. I'm very glad that he was different to you. I also believe that I posted in a later message that it might just be a personality difference. So, I DO NOT think that is irresponsible. Sorry to disagree, and I am truly sorry that my opinion offends you so much. I think you're an incredible and strong person, not just from your posts here, but from our emails. Sorry to lose you as an "email friend" over an opinion. Good luck, and congrats on your one year post op.

Ann

[txmarinemom]

I am sorry that you are so angry about my opinions. He has been resistant, in my situation, to hear about my pain and does not seem sensitive to my issues. That is a fact. I'm very glad that he was different to you. I also believe that I posted in a later message that it might just be a personality difference. So, I DO NOT think that is irresponsible. Sorry to disagree, and I am truly sorry that my opinion offends you so much.

Ann,

Yes, you have a right to your opinion.

What you wrote was a *rant* (I don't know what else to call it) from the limited perspective of a consult patient looking for med management. It was SO patently negative that despite your later acquiescence to "a possible personality difference" you sullied the reputation of a VERY good surgeon you *barely know*.

I'm still not sure what the long paragraph about your family's medical condition has to do with him. Regrettable, but not in the least pertinent.

I do find what you wrote irresponsible, and *will* every time I see it come up as the first hit when you search his name on this forum. Eventually, it'll work its way towards the top of Google via your post.

You've done a great disservice to many (and, yes, that's simply MY opinion).

Pam

[csbaby]

Suggest getting your previous doctor involved

Hi there,

You mentioned you were a Shelokov patient (as am I). Not sure if Shelokov referred you to Hansen in Houston - but I would definitely get a referral from him to help find the right surgeon for you in your area, as well as a pain management doctor.

And if he did refer you to Hansen, ask Shelokov's office to help get your meds / scripts written the way you want them. I believe they will help negotiate this with Hansen's office on your behalf. It just sounds bizarre to me that a back surgeon would only write a script for 30 pills as opposed to a 30 day supply.

Insurance companies pay copays based on 30 day supply, not 30 total pills. Somehow there is a huge misunderstanding and you are being shortchanged, as well as overcharged for your prescription costs.

My two cents - best of luck. Christy

[txmarinemom]

Hi there,

You mentioned you were a Shelokov patient (as am I). Not sure if Shelokov referred you to Hansen in Houston - but I would definitely get a referral from him to help find the right surgeon for you in your area, as well as a pain management doctor.

And if he did refer you to Hansen, ask Shelokov's office to help get your meds / scripts written the way you want them. I believe they will help negotiate this with Hansen's office on your behalf. It just sounds bizarre to me that a back surgeon would only write a script for 30 pills as opposed to a 30 day supply.

Insurance companies pay copays based on 30 day supply, not 30 total pills. Somehow there is a huge misunderstanding and you are being shortchanged, as well as overcharged for your prescription costs.

My two cents - best of luck. Christy

Why doesn't Shelokov just write her prescriptions vs. "pleading her case" to Hanson? She's made her opinion of him crystal clear, and it would be ridiculous to think an intervention by another surgeon is going to make her one bit more pleased with him.

Time to find another surgeon - and yes, a pain management doctor too.

I do have to ask, Ann, if you were so pleased with Shelokov (and his medication protocol), why aren't you still seeing him?

BTW, Christy, even right after surgery (when I went home), I received 30 pills at a time from Hanson ... which lasted me about 5 days with my tolerance.

It wasn't always easy ~convenient~ to have the office call in a refill authorization (although they ALWAYS did in < 4 hours ... and still do, usually in < ONE hour - unless it's during lunch).

It also wasn't always ~convenient~ to get to the pharmacy to pick refills (I used it as one more excuse to walk) that often in the weeks post-op, but neither did I scream about his insensitivity to my pain. I realize a surgeon can easily be accused of being a pill pusher - and didn't take it personally.

Prescribing qty 30 IS normal for him, and with the way narcotics are abused, it's prudent until (and maybe not even then) a surgeon KNOWS a patient well. I get mine written for qty 90 at a time now, but I'm also a year post-op.

BTW, as far as "shortchanged" and "overcharged", every med she listed is available in generic (and even paying FULL price, as I do, they're CHEAP). Whether it's 2 generic co-pays a month, or 2 full price generic pickups every 15 days, the cost is minimal.

FYI, my generic Norco (Hydrocodone 10/325), qty 30, full price, runs $21.97 in the SAME city (Houston) at CVS. Gabapentin and Valium are nearly 1/2 that price.

If she wants a month of meds at a time, she needs a pain management doctor. What she's asking Hanson to do is a HUGE liability for him - *especially* for a PRE-op patient, after 2 long apart consults, with no scheduled surgery.

$.02 more in the kitty.

Pam

[Houston Curves]

Hhhuuumm...

Pam:

Not too long ago, you posted a comment about possibly not writing on the forum anymore because someone had a disagreement with you. I supported your right to an opinion. I'm sorry that it is only your opinion that seems to matter to you. Your hostility at my post is over dramatic. I believe that anyone on this forum is intelligent enough to read a post and form their own opinions. I doubt that I have truly "sullied" anyone's reputation over my own opinions. As for the comment about my family, don't even go there. You have NO right.

As far as the cost of prescriptions, that isn't the point. I'm glad you were able to visit the pharmacy regularly for your meds, but I have 3 kids under 4 years old, one is in a wheel chair, and one is an infant. So, I don't have a lot of freedom to get to the store.

As for Shelokov being my doctor, he WAS. I haven't seen him in a while and he WILL BE my surgeon if I choose to travel that far for surgery. I will choose my own surgeon in my own time and based upon my own opinions.

Pam, I hope it makes you pleased that you have now done what I told you no one on this forum has the right to do...to drive someone away. I have enough stress in my life without your rudeness. Enjoy the forum. Maybe soon you'll be the only one left.

Ann

[txmarinemom]

I think we need to define "over(ly) dramatic", and no, Ann ... I doubt I'll drive everyone off: That statement is what I'd qualify as "over(ly) dramatic".

I will continue to express my educated/experienced opinion of Hanson to combat your original irrational post, full of exclamation marks and contradictions. Future patients deserve that.

All I mentioned about your family (and the out of context paragraph in your rant) is that it has no relevancy. I still say that. Everyone faces challenges, and if you think for one second I was "able to visit the pharmacy" just after surgery EASILY, you're way off the mark. We all do what we need/want to do - and we can choose to play the victim or not: I drug 2 babies around for years as a single Mom. Later, I fought the Special Ed system for 12 years. Was it easy? No. Did I ever use it as an excuse for anything? No. That's where we're very different.

BTW, your excuses are bouncing all over the place now ...

Your original post cites insurance issues with the quantity written. You claim Hanson made you feel like a liar about your pain (although you never said why, other than he wouldn't give you > 30 pills).

In your last post, you state insurance/cost isn't the issue. Now you say the issue is getting your kids to the pharmacy.

You don't have to drag 4 kids to the pharmacy, Ann. There are other ways to get refills (mail order, have someone else pick them up, etc.) I'm pretty sure you have a *husband*, correct?

After all the ranting about the quantity prescribed and why that was SUCH an issue for you (the only issue I can even vaguely determine), you finish your original post with:

"A month Rx of pain meds can last me 3-4 months!"

Based on that (your own words), shouldn't 30 pills last you at least a month? I fail to see the problem other than you seem to need someone to blame.