Looking in the East TN. area

[MSWarrior_2016]

Hello my fellow MS warriors,

I'm looking for a good MS specialist in Knoxville/Morristown TN. areas.

[Jesmcd2 CommunityAmbassador]

Good Morning MSWarrior_2016 ☕

I personally don't know of any, but MSAA can help you with that. Give them a call at 800 532-7667 ext. 154

mymsaa.org

Ask for an MS Clinic at a university of you can get it.😊 it might be further away,but we'll worth it.

What happened to your old doc?

Jes 🌠👻

[MSWarrior_2016 in reply to Jesmcd2]

Good morning Jesmcd2, I'm not happy with him at all. They won't return phone calls, I don't have a treatment plan with him at all and a couple of more things I won't mention on here. I am going on the treatment advice from a doctor at Vanderbuilt but it's just to hard on my back and bladder issues to make the 3 and a half hour drive to Nashville. I am still looking but did leave a message with Hope Neurology.

[Morllyn]

1. Hope Neurology Group

2060 Lakeside Center Way

Knoxville, TN 37922

865.218.6222 Phone

865.218.6220 Fax

2. Cole Neurology

1924 ALCOA HIGHWAY, KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE, 37920

PHONE: [phone]

I hope these help MSWarrior_2016 .

[MSWarrior_2016 in reply to Morllyn]

Thank you Morllyn, I called Hope and left a message. My current doctor is over Cole Neuroscience at UT. He is the doctor I am not at all happy with.

[Morllyn in reply to MSWarrior_2016]

May I ask which doctor that is MSWarrior_2016 ? I went to a doctor at the Cole Neuoscience also. I will not be going back to him.

[MSWarrior_2016 in reply to Morllyn]

Dr. Trudell

[Morllyn in reply to MSWarrior_2016]

Wow, that is the same doctor that I had a problem with!

My husband and son have a type of Muscular Dystrophy and Dr. Trudell was over the MDA clinic for years, then he went to being an MS specialist.

I had been to many MS information meetings, at restaurants, and loved his humor. After having 2 new supposed attacks I made an appointment with him. He apparently did not look at the records that I brought, because he got them all wrong in the reports that he sent to my primary doctor, and said that the smaller lesions were just bright spots and the large one, well he was not sure. He said that I did not have MS! I was stunned and asked what it was because I had a list of doctors that said it was. He said, and I quote, “benign weirdness”. He went on to say that it would not cause me any disability (to which I replied that the nuclear power industry had put me out on disability in 1991, so that boat has sailed) and if I wanted to, he would see me in a year. No, let’s get some other testing done to see what this is, nothing.

Sorry, I just had to vent.

[MSWarrior_2016 in reply to Morllyn]

OMG!!! This is so ironic. Trudell originally diagnosed me as not MS but related to a bad work related incident. I kept getting worse, even had a PA tell me he thought it was MS, and finally went to Craig hospital in Denver Colorado. I had read that they were a traumatic brain/spinal cord injury hospital and had very good reviews. I was out there for two weeks and did testing everyday. They suspected MS after the first week and referred me to Blue Sky Neurology in Aurora Colorado. They did a few test on me but really looked over all my MRI test results.Sure enough, I was diagnosed with SPMS. She had to leave a voicemail on my phone as I was taking a nap when she called. I still have it saved. She said "there really isn't any question it's MS". I called her back, we talked a little about it and she referred me to Vanderbilt MS center in Nashville TN.

After flying back to TN. I went to Vanderbilt and saw a really good doctor who set me up for Rituximab infusions. We came back to East TN. and hadn't been home a week and I had a flare up. I had almost lost full function of my left arm and my vision was coming and going. The ambulance paramedics reported I was a possible stroke victim but when I got to the hospital they determined it was an MS flare. They admitted me, did either 3 or 5 days of massive amounts of Steroids through IV and started more test.

Here is where I screwed up. There was a doctor Rankin that was treating me. He acted like he really wanted to help me. He did extensive testing over a 3 week period and determined I had RRMS. I told him I was just diagnosed in Colorado with SPMS. When he told me he was with TN Urology and associated with Cole Neuro Science I thought, I think that's where Dr. Trudell is. He confirmed it was. I told him about my experience with Trudell. He apologized and said he would speak to him about me.

I had the doctor at Vanderbilt, that I really like, but I didn't and don't think I could make the drive back to Nashville due to my spasticity, bladder and pain issue's. I thought about how intensive Dr Rankin was on all the testing, how he seemed like he truly wanted to help me and thought I would give Trudell another try seeing as how they were in together. Boy was I ever wrong. Trudell has done nothing but get me started on the new medicine Ocrevus. I have called, left messages to get a follow up appointment after the two half dose infusions and nobody returned my calls. I called 3 times. Finally I asked my Mother to try, she is a worker's comp claims adjuster of 40 plus years with the same company, as she knows a lot of people and how to get in touch with them and she was able to get me an appointment for Dec. 4th.

I would really like to find a good neurologist that treat's MS here locally as I don't think I can make the drive to Vanderbilt and I REALLY don't want to see Trudell again. My next appointment for my full dose of Ocrevus is in Feburary. I feel like Trudell doesn't even care as he hasn't even mentioned sending me for more MRI's to see if new lesion's have started, are the one's that were active still are etc etc etc...

[Morllyn in reply to MSWarrior_2016]

Wow, I had a hard time getting them to call me back also. I had started having new symptoms, between my initial and second visits, so I called to see what I should do. When his nurse finally called me back I explained my symptoms. She said that they were not symptoms that they usually associated with MS and hung up. I called my primary doctor and he put me on steroids.

I know that the presentation of my last two flairs/attacks were not typical, I ached all over really bad at first, but then the new sensory symptoms began and the spasms were awful. Dr. Trudell prescribed the Lyrica and it helps a lot, with the spasms and neuropathy. I asked my PCP if he could/would be able to prescribe it for me, when my prescription ran out, because I do not want to go back to Trudell.

From my reading, not everyone is effected the same. If he believed it was not MS why did he not suggest further testing.

I felt as though I was not sick enough for his attention.

Sorry!

[MSWarrior_2016 in reply to Morllyn]

I really hate that you've had such a bad experience with him also!! I am going to try a Dr. Wray at Hope Neurology if I can get an appointment with him. Another thing that bothers me with Trudell is how I'm going to get my spasticity and anti-fatigue meds refilled next month as I don't have any refills on either one. I'm sorry but no one should have to go through this with any doctor and he's the only one of mine that acts so uncaring and unprofessional. I sure wish you and your family the best and will keep y'all in my prayers. If you do happen to find a Neurologist you like please let me know.

[Morllyn in reply to MSWarrior_2016]

Thanks for letting me vent, I needed to know it wasn’t just me.I believe that Dr. Wray is Dr. Sybil Wray, a woman, and I have heard her speak about MS before. I do not know if she is a good doctor or not though. If you get to see her please let me know what you think. I have not even tried looking for another doctor because I have been sulking. Ha ha 😝! I will try again, I know, but for now I am watching, listening and waiting.

I hope she is wonderful and can give you all the help and information that you need.

Take care friend!

[MSWarrior_2016 in reply to Morllyn]

You're very welcome, vent anytime you need to. I will let you know what I think of her if I am able to get an appointment. I assumed Dr. Wray was a male until my Mother told me different lol. I will keep y'all in my prayers.

[goatgal]

MSWarrior_2016 Knoxville isn't too far from the MS Clinic at the Univ of Virginia. During good weather, I-81/I-64 would give easy access.

[MarkUpnorth]

Sorry I can't help you being from the Midwest, but I had to mention having just come back literally this past week from visiting old friends (also from the Midwest) in Johnson City TN, where they now live. How beautiful that area is. Been through there many times via the interstate only, never really seeing the area except for a few tourist attractions. Our friends chauffeured us all around there and Wow! Those hills (appalachian mountains), pronounced app-a-latch-uh!?! I was corrected. What happened to the english pronunciation? - you southerners! Gorgeous up close and in them. All the waterfalls, mountain streams... Did the Virginia Creeper Trail (a 17 mile downhill panic attack for someone with very limited balance) as it is done using bikes, something I had to give up years ago and thought I'd never be able to do again, and probably shouldn't have, as I saw my whole life pass before me nearly the entire 2 hour trip down, even on a tricycle. Only crashed gently many times, but it could have been one of those steep drops from which there would have been no surviving. Had to have the bike surgically removed from my grip at the bottom. Definitely never again not on a recumbent. But have to, so I can see all I missed focussed solely on staying alive.

I could live there, except that I was told it gets hot and muggy! I'm not sure ice vests would be enough there. Caning it though the hills that time of year was great! Appreciate where you live! Take in the outdoors there however you can, it will help you with your MS!

[DavidinKnoxville]

The best I've had for MS in knoxville is dr wray at the hope clinical. Best thing since sliced bread! Better experience than Vanderbilt or in Birmingham. Great team, great doctor.

[MSWarrior_2016 in reply to DavidinKnoxville]

Hello David, I have called Hope Neurology to try to get an appointment but so far nobody has called me back. I will call again Monday. Thank you for the help!!!

[mjjohnson in reply to MSWarrior_2016]

Did you get in touch with her?

I was told she was not taking new patients.

Dr Trudell was awful. Spent about 5 min

With me

[WAshingtongirl]

I love this forum and how we help each other in so many different ways. MSWarrior_2016 and Morllyn , I hope you both find a knowledgeable and compassionate MS neuro. It's wonderful reading everyone's input and recommendations. Makes me all the more thankful for my neurologist. Praying you find one just as good...and sooner than later, too. 💕

[MSWarrior_2016 in reply to WAshingtongirl]

Thank you

[Morllyn]

Thank you WAshingtongirl .