Dr. Jeffery Edward Fitzthum, MD

MY MOM IS 80 YEARS OLD ABOUT 5 YEARS AGO HER DISC CRUMBLED SLOW RECOVERY THEN SHE HAD APPENDIX SURGERY ANOTHER SLOW RECOVERY, THEN LAST YEAR SHE HAD INTESTINE GO THROUGH STOMACH WALL AND HAD EMERGENCY SURGERY THE NEXT DAY SHE KEPT LOOSING BLOOD SO THEY HAD ANOTHER SURGERY, AND ANOTHER SLOW RECOVERY. SHE HAS HAD FIBRMORALSIA FOR YEARS SO HAS BEEN IN CHRONIC PAIN. HER MD RETIRED SO SHE WANTED US TO FIND A NEW DR TO HANDLE PAIN MANAGEMENT. HE CUT HER BACK FROM 1 OXICODONE PILL 4-6 HOURS AS NEEDED WITH NIGHTIME MORPHINE TO 1 EVERY 6 HOURS AND NO MORPHINE. SHE HAS BEEN MANAGING HER PAIN. THIS LAST VISIT AFTER TELLING HIM SHE MAY BE SHORT ON PAIN PILLS BECAUSE SHE HAS TAKEN ONE AT NIGHT WHEN HER LEG PAIN IS BAD. SHE WAS NOT SURE EXACTLY HOW MANY PILLS SHE HAD HE SAID THAT THIS RELATIONSHIP IS ABOUT TRUST AND SAID SHE MAY BE MAKING UP THIS PAIN. HE HAS NO WAY TO KNOW IF SHE IS JUST FAKING PAIN JUST TO GET PAIN PILLS. SHE WAS IN TEARS AS HE CONTINUED ABOUT BEING SUED FOR GIVING HER… PAIN MEDICATION AND LOOSING HIS LICENSE. SHE TRIED TO REASURE HIM. MY MOM TOLD HIM HE SHOULD NOT BE TREATING PATIENTS. WHEN I GOT HOME I COUNTED THE PILLS SHE STILL HAD A WEEK SUPPLY LESS 1 PILL. HE GAVE HER A MONTH SUPPLY. IF YOU HAVE EVER USED PAIN PILLS YOU KNOW THEY DO NOT LAST 6 HOURS. ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE BEEN TAKING THEM FOR YEARS. SH HAS SEEN SOO MANY DRS AND TRIED SOO MANY TREATMENTS NO ONE CAN STOP THE PAIN. TIME TO FIND A NEW DOCTOR.

I am currently looking for a new Primary Care Physician. With Dr Fitzhum as my baseline for care, that is going to be extremely difficult. From my first appointment with him nearly 5 years ago, he has treated me with kindness, respect, interest in my condition and sometimes even with humor. He is obviously "formally educated," but he is so well-versed in new studies and the latest procedures/treatments. The best part outside his kind, soft spoken demeanor is that he listens to me. Any reading or research that I have done on my own, he always listens to and gives me his honest, educated opinion. He doesn't discount me because I'm just a patient. He let me cry in his office when my mom passed and he let me jump for joy when my first grandchild was born; both happened in the midst of my monthly appointments. My appointments with him is like being treated by a friend. He knows how to balance medicine and humanity.

Doctor Fitzthum is the best listener I've ever encountered in a physician. His bedside manner is unsurpassed and his knowledge of his field is truly elite. However, he's one of the most down-to-earth people I've ever met, let alone a doctor. One of the things I appreciate is that he's never been one to just medicate me...he's always tried to provide a true solution rather than simply masking the problem with medication, which I truly appreciate. If I've ever required meds, he's always ensured my safety and closely monitored my intake of minimal but adequate doses with the intention of promptly getting me back to a condition which no longer requires medication, which takes a lot of effort and focus on his part. I always leave his office feeling as though I'm his only patient, which is really an amazing feat due to his high demand. I wouldn't recommend anybody else in this field...and I've been to quite a few considering all of my cervical fusions and continued deteriorations in… the cervical and lumbar regions.

After my on the job injury, I was refeared to Dr. Jeffery Fitzthum. I am very happy with my treatment and progress. I have found Dr Fitzthum to be very professional,and caring. He listens to what I have to say and helps me find ways to help me with my pain management with physical therapy as well as strictly monitoring my medication. I would stongly recommend Dr Fitzthum to everyone with severe back problems.

Willing to spend time needed to listen, evaluate, recommend and prescribe. He's old school in many ways as far as professional demeanor is concerned. I highly recommend Dr. Jeffery E. Fitzthum.