Gordon M Aamoth, MD

I went in with muscle spasms in my back, which I have had occasionally over the past eight years. After describing my symptoms and history with upper back pain (being repeatedly cut short by him in the process), he assessed my back for less than 30 seconds, then diagnosed me with adolescent disc disease. (I have since only found information on a condition called "juvenile" disc disorder, and see many contradictions with my symptoms.)His only instructions were to take Aleve, and other than that, there was nothing that could be done. I just had to deal with it, and take Aleve when it got real bad. In 20 years, it might go away, he said. When I suggested a possible connection with certain food allergies (I have made correlations between eating certain foods and experiencing heightened back pain), he disregarded them, saying "it's not in the literature. Orthopaedic medicine does not recognize any connection between back pain and food allergies.") So, just like that, years of my experiences and hypotheses were thrown out as impossible, because "it's not in the literature." With my understanding of his disgnosis far from clear, and with no idea as to what I should do next to help myself recover, he walked out of the room. He never said "any questions?" "good to meet you" or "goodbye." I didn't know if he was coming back or what I was supposed to do. Within 10 seconds, I heard him check in with another patient next door. I eventually wandered out into the hall to find out with the heck I was supposed to be doing or waiting for. I left the appointment feeling discouraged, disempowered, and far more confused and hopeless than when I went in. I DO NOT recommend this doctor.