Rheumatologist recommendations?
Anyone have a recommendation for a good rheumatologist? Doesn't necessarily have to be local... I've been dealing with chronic muscle pain for years and no one has yet been able to figure out what is going on. I have seen an osteopath, but all he was interested in doing was cutting me open. Once I specified surgery was right out he had no further interest in talking to me.
My issues do not stem from an injury of any kind, it is a systemic and symmetrical issue.... I believe it may not be only muscular, but also neurological... which is why I'm looking for a rheumatologist next.
And before people start recommending chiropractic, acupuncture, massage, etc.... I've done them. Still do massage, but it's a stopgap at best. I need the ANSWER, I'm tired of treating symptoms.
JeffersonRepub Golembek. Was in succasunna and Dover. But just opened office in old A&P complex across from target. (Blockbuster)
He’s very laid back, doesn’t over medicate and LISTENS! Have been going to him for many years
Ziggy Dr Pare or Dr Golumbek are in Succasunna and are good rheumatologists
They are in same office
I have been going to there office for many years seeing Dr Giangrasso but he recently retired so i see Dr Golumbek now
I have tried a local rheumatologist
There was only one i found in Hackettstown and i just didnt find him
Helpful
I have a systemic autoimmune disease that brought on severe pain and
Swelling fatigue and brain fog
At least with treatment i can manage it
There was a time i could not stand or walk without extreme pain and needed
Help
Today i can walk and manage symptoms much better
Hope you find a doctor that can help you regain you your health
Liz Yes they have satellite office where blockbuster was
But the nurse practitioner is the only one there and its just Wednesday
Afternoon
I go there weekly for my methotrexate
Injection
But for my infusion i have to go to Dover
For my regular evals and bloodwork
I see Dr Golumbek in Succusaunna
He is there on Tuesdays
Which work for me
The nurse practitioner Hillary is good too
If you go to there website
Dr Golumbek has very good credentials very high standing
Also Hillary actually has Rheumatoid
Arthritis so she has first hand knowledge on pain etc
DogDayAfternoonI saw golembeck before. He neglected to order the proper labs and missed a sjogrens antibody hi positive. Thought I was ‘tired from working too much’. I have since saw Dr Wu in hackettstown and finally managed to get into see Dr Pare.
Dr Wu is who I would go with over Golembeck if you’re doing investigative work.
Debbie Polson I had the opposite of the above. I was misdiagnosed and then went to Golombek. Loved him. He was very thorough and listened and didn't over medicate and so on.
I used to see Dr. Giangrasso for Allergies and Dr. Pare for a separate neuromuscular ongoing condition with fatigue involved as well. That was at the referral of my Primary Care Physician. Dr. Giangrasso was extremely popular and did just retire a year ago and I was transferred to another Doctor's PA.
Dr. Pare was excellent in terms of getting to the root of the problems I was having and sent me to physical therapy and prescribed one item for muscle relaxation and to help me sleep at night. After I finished the PT, I found I required less of the meds, only using it when the issue popped up after shoulder overexertion of certain types (it was an upper shoulder/back/neck issue). She's an excellent listener and I'd go back to her in a heartbeat if needed, but the point is, I don't really need to. She's also a runner, so it helps that she's an athlete in terms of being in tounch on a personal level with injuries. including the onset of rheumatism, arthritis, etc.
Best of luck!
Phil D. Thanks everyone!
And Phil- this is indeed an upper back/neck/shoulder issue... but overexertion doesn't seem to have anything to do with it, and it's always symmetrical (both sides of the body), which is why I think something systemic is going on.
I'm going for my 1st round of the advanced lyme testing tomorrow.
iJay JR Where do you go for "advanced lyme testing" and what does it involve? I was diagnosed 10 years ago and given doxicyclene. No real physical symptoms but I have brain fog and concentration issues. I'm thinking I have one of the co-infections but as someone here said the blood tests I get at Lab Corp. are useless. I'd like to find someone to test for those co-infections. thanks for any info you can give me.
R.A. R.A., Normally you would go to a lyme specialist; but apparently there aren't many available... my nutritionist just got access to the advanced lyme testing, which can include (if you want) the testing for the co-infections. It's not cheap, and insurance doesn't pay for it. The lyme tests are $400, and the co-infections test is $800.
Wellness Center of NW NJ
http://www.thewellnesscenternwj.com
She literally JUST got the lyme test kits in, I was on a waiting list for them to arrive. But now that she's set-up with the labs (apparently only 2 labs in the country do this testing), there shouldn't be a wait. Lori Lee is a functional nutritionist, and the reason she got involved with lyme is because so many of her clients have it, and she's doing the alternative treatments to get rid of it, as we are finding out the doxy doesn't necessarily work 100%, especially for those who were diagnosed late and it has become chronic.
Thanks J.R. I may go ahead and get the test regardless of the money. I know nutrition is important with any disease but I was hoping there was some special antibiotic for the co-infections ( if I do have one) I don't know if it is the test you're getting, but I've seen some articles about the IGen x test. It's supposed to be more accurate Good luck and. please keep us posted as to how you make out. Thanks again.
Igen X isn't a test, it's a lab. But it's one of the 2 labs in the country doing this advanced testing, and yes one of those labs (and a lyme doctor) is who my nutritionist is working with.
One of my best friend's wife was just diagnosed with lyme. He's an acupuncturist as well as a holistic/alternative medicine person, he is researching all the alternative treatments (his wife is on the antibiotics as well).
The book always recommended is The Lyme Solution, written by an MD who himself had lyme disease, and cured himself of it using alternative methods. I haven't read it yet, but I will be if I end up having lyme.
CraftBeerBob I tested VERY HIGH positive for IGG (lyme)... likely chronic. Now the treatment begins...
Western medicine has nothing to offer but doxycycline... and it has been shown that lyme can survive a 28-day course of doxy. So after the doxy, I will be doing the Zhang protocol, outlined in the book I posted above. Fingers crossed.
I have crps, trigeminal neuralgia and nerve damage everywhere. All the rheumatologists I saw were only interested in saying it was fibromyalgia. Dr Viradia a neurologist at mid Jersey orthopedics in Flemington found my nerve damage.
I also learned I have something called a mthfr mutation. I do not process folic acid and it builds up becoming toxic to my body. I am on methotrexate. I have to take folinic acid. I also have a sensitivity methyls. And I realized that my b12 and folate and blood test were high but they weren’t being used by cells. I take hydroxo adenosyl b12, magnesium malate and glycinate. I take lithium orotate to get b12 and folate in my cells/used. And I have a double mutation on my vitamin D receptor. I don’t get from the sun and I need to take around 10,000 units daily of D3 to keep my level just normal. A lot of my muscle pains and aches and pains have gone away since. You might be interested in reading Dr. Lynch’s book called dirty genes.
Megan B I’m a great believer in the holistic approach. There are many essential oils that can help.
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/amp/323881
If u and your nutritionist decide to use oils just be sure u get a good one. Not on line or at a local store. 100% pure on the bottle means nothing. I use Young Living which. I’m sure many will comment on, but it is the only truly pure oil. If the bottles you find anywhere else say not to take internally then why would you put it on your body. It still goes into your body.
If you do use essential oils I’m not TELLING you to use YL. Just do your research which I can tell you have been doing.
I have tested positive for Lyme a few times so i know how it makes you feel. Good luck with whatever you try.
Nellejoy Megan- I am glad you had a good experience with Dr. Viradia-- I too went to him for an issue a family member was having and he diagnosed the problem accurately and I thought he had a good bedside manner. I am glad to hear you are doing well.
sportsfan 
maja2 Megan, I also have the mutation... apparently most people of european descent do. I had not heard of a toxicity tho... I will have to research that.... thanks for the info.
Dr Pare. She is super. Have been going to her for 20 years and she has been on top of everything! Because of her care I am in what I consider great condition and quite mobile considering I have had this for so long. Granted more things keep popping up but I still really can’t complain. I highly recommend Dr Pare.
Barb 
Matilda Fuentes Commenting is no longer available.