According to my reading of the posts on this forum, the biggest criticism (besides cost) has been the post-surgery follow-up. If patients are having post op problems, and they aren't handled well by the physican's assistant (PA) and they can't even talk to the doctor for weeks, THAT IS A PROBLEM.
I am very concerned about one of our members who has been in terrible pain for over a month and the office will not even allow her paid phone consultation to be moved up so she can talk to the doctor. This is appalling.
There had also been many complaints about staff screw ups regarding app'ts, scheduled phone calls with Dr. Filler, and insurance.
I can only hope the office (office staff, the PA, & Dr. Filler) "gets their act together" and improves the follow-up care of patients who are having problems. That way, all of the future online reports about Dr. Filler & his office will be nothing but glowing.
I appreciate you taking the time to post. I had surgery with Dr. Filler and agree that he is a skilled professional with an exceptional history in his field.
I m sure you have read most or perhaps all of the past posts on this forum. Can you shed some light on some of the recent concerns pertaining to after-care? I m speaking of people not receiving phone calls when scheduled, scheduled appointments that have been rescheduled for weeks out and extremely long waiting times for appointments in the office. I'm not only getting this information from other people on this forum, but from first hand experience. For instance, my last appointment in the office with Dr. Filler was 2 hours past the scheduled time. And, I ve heard of others waiting for much longer than 2 hours. I realize most patients don t see a doctor right on time. Also, some doctors overbook or do take extra time with patients as needed, however, it does seem like the wait times are far beyond the norm. I ve been on this forum for several months and it seems that this is something many of Dr. Filler s patients are experiencing in recent weeks.
I don t bring this up to be combative or defamatory, I only bring this up because it wasn t specifically addressed in your post and I know it is a major concern and it might be nice for us to get your input on this to ease our minds. It seems that these concerns are relatively new as past posts did not seem to have as many problems with phone appointments, etc. Can you shed some light on what might be different now? I, and I m sure others, do consider how things are on your end as well (as far as how busy the office is). It could simply be that Dr. Filler is in high demand and stretched to the limit.
While these complaints may be perceived as whinny or unimportant in the scheme of things, from a patient s point of view, when one is in extreme pain it s difficult to wait or to have set appointments rescheduled for a later date.
Thank you for your time.
Leesa
I can only believe that Dr. Filler knows nothing of your post. It is difficult for me to believe that any respectable doctor would address his patients problems and concerns with such an attitude and in such an unprofessional manner.
Sadie
I think the main concerns I was hearing had nothing to do with Dr. Filler's competency but with the recent difficulty people were having in their contacts whether it be telephone or email. Some were trying to get through to Ever but never heard back and did not know he had left until they found out on the forum. I never received a followup call that was scheduled, but a very polite apology from Kim the following day (for injection not surgery) as it was her I emailed. And I thanked Kim. Perhaps for those who are at a distance post surgery, realistic expectations for post surgery should be explained and maybe they are.. Personally if I had surgery it wouldbe very difficult to stay in California during recovery which I think takes a good 3-4 months. So I would be one of those relying on telephone appointments. Again this problem seems to have cropped up recently and I think it took many by surprise. I agree with Leesa it would help to have your point of view. I am sure that Dr. Filler is in much demand and I am sure it has been difficult to lose Sheila Butler and now Ever.
So what I am trying to say is I am a great cheerleaderfor Dr. Filler but am concerned about some of the recent problems with followup.
Shirley Campbell
A question for the group. Some of you have spoken about surgery with Dr. Barbaro and I know Margie just had surgery done by him. Does he also do MR Neurography as part of his diagnosis? I was under the impression that the Neurography Institute was the only place this diagnostic procedure was done - either in Santa Monica or Pennsylvania?
Thanks,
Aztec
Yes, Dr. Barbaro does the MR Neurography as well as the sciatic notch injection for diagnostic purposes. Let me know if you have any other questions about Dr. Barbaro. I think I'm the only member of the forum right now who is seeing Dr. Barbaro, although Julie will be seeing him next week.
Margie
I am knew to your forum, and thanks for your time.
I read some of the online posts and think that you may be in a position to help me find relief from a seemingly hard to diagnose ailment that has had me suffering, perhaps unnecessarily, for a number of years.
I have been suffering from severe undiagnosed lower abdominal pain (right behind and slightly above the umbilicus), that is exacerbated with point specific palpation, and with sexual activity or bearing down to urinate, and have been through the proverbial gamut of exams, including a series of images (MRI, CT Scan), and a full urological work-up, including a cystoscopy, and all has come back normal. Urology has given me a clean bill of health, but the pain is still present. For a while, clinicians seemed to hint to me that I should seek counseling and that there is nothing that can be done for me outside of exploratory laparoscopy et al.
However, I have been told that it very well might be a nerve entrapment, or specifically, abdominal cutaneous nerve entapment syndrome. What are your thoughts? What do you think about Dr. Filler? Can he diagnose and treat things like this? Thanks!
Sorry to hear you are having problems with a difficult-to-diagnose ailment. It s really scary not knowing what is wrong with you and having someone tell you that, basically, it s all in your head. I feel for you.
Dr. Filler s specialty is nerves so it wouldn t hurt to get his opinion. Where do you live?
Leesa
I live in Cal City, so fairly close to his office (about two hours). Thanks for your kindness. It has been a struggle- I am in the Navy and it has really mad emy life miserable for a while...
Well, if there's one thing we all relate to it's being miserable! I hope you are able to find some answers. Good luck.
Leesa
thanks Margie for the response. I'm SURE I will have questions for you :} and continued good luck with your recovery. I'm sure your experience will be helpful to us all.
I'm supposed to get a botox injection next week, though it will probably be unguided - stupid insurance companies.
Aztec
Hope you have some relief from the botox. I'm with you on the insurance companies. But in my case, my insurance company picked up the tab for two rounds of the guided botox injections and then refused to pay for the third injection which was unguided. Made no sense to me. The unguided injection was FAR less expensive. Go figure.
Margie
Kinsan, so sorry to hear you are having trouble getting a diagnosis and don't let anyone tell you this may be in your head. We have all been there as piriformis syndrome is one of those syndromes that many doctors don't believe in. You may want to email someone there and ask if Dr. Filler may be able to help. You are so close and it wouldn'thurt to get a consult if possible. ***this post is edited by moderator *** *** posting of web addresses is not allowed*** Please read our Terms of Use
Good luck.
Shirley
Thank you for responding on behalf of Dr. Filler.
When I read Hawaii Girl's letter post-op, my heart went out to her; and I believe it was my duty to speak up.
I do respect Dr. Filler's work (as stated), and am glad that he is addressing piriformis syndrome (as stated). Prior to the surgery, I WAS dissuaded by other medical professionals to not undergo surgery; I stuck up for Dr. Filler unequivacobly. I understand the cost of the surgery, and this is not what concerned me. (All things being equal, though, it does make sense to choose a doctor that is covered by insurance, e.g. Dr. Barbaro.)
I also believe I was properly diagnosed.
I understand the risks involved; I do not blame Dr. Filler for any poor results. I do believe he is competent, and did his best. And I am grateful that he did do his best.
I stand by my assertion that my post-op care was poor; it is necessary to receive attentive post-op care, especially if the surgery does not have the results hoped for and leaves someone in such severe pain; I almost lost my mind with pain. I can not stand up for Dr. Filler in this regard. Five months post-op, I was finally referred to a pain clinic. (My family doctor had to jump in while I waited to see Dr. Filler.)
The long wait times ARE crazy; I experienced the long waits two years ago; I recommended a well-known Hollywood agent to Dr. Filler shortly after my surgery; she finally left after 1 1/2 hours of waiting. And the patients on this forum continue to have long wait times.
I did feel taken advantage of with the last injection (as I stated in a non-hostile letter to Dr. Filler, to which I heard no response). At the time of the injection, I was desperate, in severe pain, and was not thinking clearly on my own.
I hope that this forum will help to clarify and improve the care given, both for Hawaii Girl, and any future patients that might come to your office.
And Hawaii Girl, I hope you are getting some relief from the pain!
Nerve Pain
I just found this site and read the available postings regarding Dr. Aaron Filler this morning. I wish I had read your postings before my surgery and three procedures. My heart goes out to you. I will try to help by being as objective and informative as I can.
1. Is Dr. Filler a quack? He is definitely not a quack, but he is no healer either. If you think of the role of the neurosurgeon between the time of the incision and closing, Filler is good and in good standing with prominent local institutions, such as Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and UCLA. But he is no healer in my opinion and once your incision is closed, and as long as you don't have any operative complications, such as infection, you're pretty much on your own as others have pointed out. Nor does he enjoy a good reputation among local doctors, at least according to a few I've spoken with. The major complaint is he is unavailable to consult with concerning joint patient care. You may want to ask your regular physician to try to reach Dr. Filler to discuss your condition. This will give you an idea of his availability.
2. What are Piriformis Syndrome, gluteal nerve syndrome, and all that jazz? These disorders come under the general heading of pelvic nerve entrapment. In other words, the nerves in the spinal column---where all your doctors have been looking for the cause of your pain---leave there in good health. However, they get hung up, or entrapped, in your butt or pelvis area by scar tissue and various other adhesions. In this context, neuroplasty of the gluteal, piriformis, or whatever other nerve is involved simply means freeing the nerve from the entrapments. Think of a garden hose coming down from your house and laying in brush without water coming out. The indoor plumbing is your spinal column. The outdoor area, including the brush, is your pelvis. Dr. Filler starts at the house and follows the course of the hose freeing it from its various entanglements and, hopefully, getting the water going.
3. Where do I get more information? The best source of information about these surgeries is Filler et al., Sciatica of nondisk origin etc., in the J. Neurosurg Spine (2:99-115 2005). I also recommend a trip to the local library since you'll have to lay out the relevant pages of several books on anatomy to get an understanding of the area where your problem fits into the bigger picture. There are assorted photographs and drawings available on the Web, but I found that medical books are better for the layman in bringing things into context. Filler s book, Do You Really Need Back Surgery? etc., is good.
4. What the hell is going on in Filler's office? As I see it, he never devoted enough attention to patient care, particularly communication, and his office. Then things got worse. As others explained, Filler had an assistant, a nurse named Sheila, for years. She left recently and was replaced rather haphazardly, in my opinion, by Everardo "Ever" Mejia. I understand he quit onthe 20th. Now the staffing problem has made everything worse.
The relevant people in the office are Kim, who answers the phones; Essence who handles billing; and Jodeau, who schedules surgery. There are two nurses that I know of, CiCi and Soraya. I have found them to be caring, competent, and likeable.
I am not surprised to read of other peoples bad experiences. In my last two appointments, I waited 2.5 hours or more for Filler. If you call before to see if he is running late, don't rely on Kim. It is probably always a good idea to check your credit card bills for mistakes.
5. What should I know about surgery? First, if someone in the office tells you you will be able to get on an airplane the next day, check that out with Dr. Filler. Maybe you could, but I was in very bad shape. Don't expect to do too much until after your first follow up appointment with Filler.
My best recommendation is to handle your informed consent before coming to Los Angeles. Make sure that you go over all your expectations for your postoperative care when you will be able to drive, walk, climb stairs whatever might be applicable to your surgery, with Dr. Filler, not the staff. It is very important that you understand how your pain management will be handled in the hospital and what pain medication you will be given on discharge. If you are told that something less potent than Oxycontin or oxycodone will manage your pain particularly something with Tylenol, get another opinion! Tylenol limits the amount of a pain medication you can take. Oxycodone is not so limited. Be sure you know exactly what medication will be handed to you at the hospital. You don t want to try to fill a pain Rx right after surgery.
Go over the discharge instructions, which you can get in advance, with Dr. Filler, not the staff. I understand it is Dr. Filler's practice not to see surgical patients until the surgical pain has subsided, which maybe a month later. Find out when he will first see you after you leave the hospital. This will give you an idea of how long you're going to have to deal with surgical pain. Once the surgical pain is gone, it takes the nerves time to heal. Ask Filler how long.
6. Are there Other Doctors? If you are in the Los Angeles area, there are two other doctors you may consider if you are uncertain about your diagnosis. In my 30-plus-year odyssey in the world of back doctors, the best I've found is Peter A. Bardwick M.D. (he isn't a surgeon) in Santa Monica (310) 828-4759. The only drawbacks are he does not take insurance and it can take a while to get to a first appointment. But in terms of being a healer, he is everything Filler is not. There is a neuroradiologist in Beverly Hills, Stephen B. Fierstien MD, Beverly Hills Imaging, who is brilliant and very caring. He took a CT scan for me and read x-rays and MRIs taken by others for me and explained and showed me everything.
The head of the spine clinic at Cedars Sinai told me there are approximately six doctors performing the kind of neurosurgery that Filler does. Cedars physician said one was in the Orange County area. He did not locate the others for me, but I assume they are around the country. He told me I should be able to get a list from Filler. You may also be able to get a recommendation from The Spine Center at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
7. In California, where does one complain about unethical conduct? I am not accusing Dr. Filler of unethical conduct. I am, however, concerned about unethical conduct in general and pain management in particular. The relief of pain is a core ethical duty in medicine.
Google pain management ethics for more information. I have no complaint about Filler s pain management, but I was proactive. I recommend to be too. However, since some of you have asked, if you have a complaint to make, it can be addressed to:
The Medical Board of California
I hope this information helps.
Oneman