I know I am chiming in late here, but about a week ago I went to my pain management doctor that I see for my degenerative disc disease. Though I have been seeing him for almost six months now, I think he just finally got around to looking at everything in my chart. He must have seen where I listed my PTSD diagnosis. So then he asks if I was a combat veteran. I said no. Then he asked if I was a sexual assault victim or a child abuse victim. I said no. Then he dropped this medical gem of a statement on me. "Those are the only people that typically have PTSD. What you have is more than likely stress related, but not PTSD." I replied that I had a diagnosis from a medical professional. He asked if they were an MD or a PhD. I said that it was a PhD. Then he started asking me about my symptoms. I finally interrupted him and said that just because you weren't in combat doesn't mean you can't have PTSD. I've been shot at multiple times. It sucks no matter where you are. So he wants to know where and how I came to get shot at. I told him I had been a police officer before my back issues began which is also clearly noted in my file. He said that he hadn't seen that. We parted ways with him telling me that he really didn't need to see me every month and he gave me a two month supply of my medicine. What, does he think I am crazy and am going to have a flashback in his office or something?
So it is time for a new doctor! Keep in mind, I don't take narcotic pain relievers even though they have been offered to me. Not three months ago this very same doctor told me he doesn't understand how I can cope with my back (based on how the MRIs look) without major painkillers. All I take is Lyrica. So on the one hand you say that. But on the other hand you want to act like I am making up PTSD. Moron!
Now I know that you don't see too many cops or former cops going around talking about PTSD. But that is because of the stigma attached to it in our line of work. PLENTY of us suffer from it. But we have to keep it hidden from our supervisors since they really won't do very much to help you. At least not around here. So at least I educated him as to that fact. Now I think he fully understands that cops and fireman can have PTSD too. Maybe he slept through that part of medical school. Who knows?
