New York Times article (chronic pain in women especially)

[Violet M]

In regards to Dr. Deborah Metzger I think it's important to read this thread before drawing any conclusion on Northernspy's post above:

http://www.pudendalhope.info/forum/view ... zger#p2280 and this quote by Emily:

*******WARNING ABOUT DR. DEBORAH METZGER*********

Dr. Deborah Metzger injured many, MANY women. She was disciplined by the Medical Board of California. Here is what the Medical Board of California Action Report of July 2005 read:

"...charged with gross negligence, incompetence, repeated negligent acts and excessive treatment in the care and treatment of six patients, prescribing without medical indication, creating false medical documents and failing to maintain adequate and accurate medical records in the care and treatment of five patients and violating advertising statutes pertaining to a Fictitious Name Permit. Revoked, stayed, placed on five years probation with terms and conditions including, but not limited to, obtaining a practice/billing monitor, prohibited from practicing surgery, specifically from practicing laparoscopy, laparotomy, and hernia repair surgery, completing a prescribing practices course and ordered to pay cost recovery of $25,000."

The medical board only goes after the worst of the worst doctors. Gross negligence. Dr. Metzger just recently completed the five year probation on her license and I fear she will once again prey on chronic pain patients like us. She is charismatic and convincing and lures in desperate patients who have chronic health problems. If you have seen her and have not been harmed, feel lucky. It was only through the efforts of the Medical Board of California and the patients who came forward that the public has been protected.

You can view the full public records of the injuries she caused to patients, overprescribed medications, falsified surgery reports, medical records, and billing and made false claims of being able to cure patients. Go to http://www.medbd.ca.gov/lookup.html. At the bottom of the page click "Continue Search". Fill in her name, Deborah Metzger. Click on Public Record Documents. Click on the items below to see the documents.

Do not become her victim.

Emily B.

AND this quote by Ezer:

I believe that Dr.Metzger used to diagnose occult hernias in every woman with pelvic pain. She performed many unnecessary hernia surgeries.
Karen Wiesner is one of her victims.

[Lernica]

Gigas,

This article was posted elsewhere on the forum, and someone else exposed Dr. Deborah Metzger as a delicensed surgeon, a quack and a danger to patients because her propensity to perform unnecessary hernia surgeries on women. If you search "Metzger" in the upper right hand corner of this page, you'll see the thread.

Thanks again for your efforts.

[Violet M]

Lernica, I think we were posting at the same moment. I just posted some quotes from that thread.

[Violet M]

Northernspy, could you please post some peer-reviewed literature on this topic?

There are many peer-reviewed articles on PNE.

[Griff522]

Thank you NS for posting this. I think you emailed me a long time ago with info on hernia stuff and I just blew it off. I should've listened! I was just diagnosed with two inguinal hernias on Wednesday.

[Karyn]

Hey, Griff!!!!
Welcome back! How were your hernia's detected? Did you suspect them, or were they revealed via imaging?
It's so nice to hear from you again!
Hugs,
Karyn

[Griff522]

Hi Karyn!!

No I did not suspect the hernia. In fact when I went for the ultrasound, I didn't even know they were going to check me for hernias!

I was seeing an hip orthopedic surgeon to determine if I had a labral tear. He was VERY thorough in helping me. He ordered a MR Arthrogram of my hip and a CT scan, but he was also concerned about the tendinosis in my adductors. So he ordered a ultrasound with a radiologist that he works closely with. The MRI showed a labral tear, but he wasn't convinced that it was causing my pain because of my symptoms. So we waited for the ultrasound results.

Setting up the ultrasound was tricky because it was at a different hospital that is in downtown Detroit. I had to make it at time when the radiologist and OS were both available. When the tech started off the ultrasound she told me that she was going to look for hernias first. I mentioned to my husband that I was a little surprised by that, but was glad they were checking. So to check for the hernia, she had me blow on the back of my hand without releasing air. This caused what I will call "stuff" to pop out of the hernia hole. So after she was done, the radiologist came in and my OS showed up and he went back and looked at the hernias too. He also check my hips as my OS moved my legs into different positions to check for hip problems.

I have all the symptoms of a hernia except the "bulge." It angers me that it has taken 3 years for a doctor to listen to me and help me figure this out. I told my gynecologist in the beginning of this that I was lifting heavy weights. Don't you think she could've gone down the list of symptoms and recognized it was a freakin hernia!!!!!!!!!!! I have seen 7 different doctors (make that 8 including Dellon) and NO ONE thought to check me for a hernia even though I told them I had been lifting heavy weights!! Sorry I'm just really pissed off right now.

[Lernica]

Linda,

Isn't a hernia by definition a bulge or tear in the stomach muscles? How can they diagnose a hernia if there is no bulge? Also, it was stated earlier but bears repeating that Dr. Deborah Metzinger (quoted in the NYT article) has lost her licence as a surgeon and has caused many women a great deal of unnecessary pain and suffering resulting from unnecessary "hernia" surgery.

I'm so glad that you have found a source for some of your pain and that you are moving forward with a plan.

[Karyn]

Isn't a hernia by definition a bulge or tear in the stomach muscles? How can they diagnose a hernia if there is no bulge

I'm glad you brought this up, Lernica!
A hernia "by definition is indeed" a bulge. Griff, I have a friend who presented with the same symptoms you're describing and her issue was a rectus abdominis tear (a/k/a Sports Hernia). Given your athletic and weight lifting background, it's my hope you'll be able to get clarification about the difference between the two.
My friend recently had surgery with Dr. Meyers in PA, who specializes in this type of thing:

http://www.vinceracorephysicians.com/Physicians.html

If you click on the RESOURCES tab, and then PUBLICATIONS, you'll be able to view the papers Dr. Meyers has published on the subject.
With love and hugs,
Karyn

[Griff522]

Yes I've read Dr Meyers' website backwards and forwards. My plan is to see him as soon as I can schedule time off from my 24/7 job of wife and mother! Oh and I have to have a companion because I can't drive myself to the hotel after surgery.