Dr. Karen Hermoine Schorn, MD

My Mother was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis 35 years ago. She has lived in different cities over the years and been to several (maybe 8?) different rheumatologists. She recently went to Dr. Schorn because the rheumatologists near we live no longer take her insurance. She went to an initial appointment and had blood work done, and then I went to the next appointment with her to see what treatment plan Dr. Shorn came up with. Also, this office is an hour away from where we live. Let me stop briefly and say that my mom took methotrexate (cancer drug) for 10 years for the pain, Orencia trials but then had to stop because it costs thousands of dollars..had both knees replaced..has had heart, major lung, and spine issues and spine surgery due to the toll rheumatoid has taken on her body and cartilage. A body can only have so much steroid before it is dangerous, but she has been in such dire pain that she cries trying to put her clothes on, and her knuckles have been 4 times their… normal size for a long period of time. Narcotics barely touch her pain. Steroids help but doctors don't want to give too much. Now, having said that, when Dr. Schorn walked in the room, she didn't say " how are you?"..or "Is this your daughter?" Her first words were a very abrupt and rude "You're not gonna like what I have to say". It almost sounded like a snotty attitude. I can't explain it. you would have to meet her and hear her to really understand. Basically she thinks my mom doesn't have rheumatoid arthritis and wants to treat osteoarthritis with Tylenol. She said maybe it's lupus (which yes is similar to rheumatoid), but you don't walk into a patient's room who has cried and cried in pain for 35 years and can barely walk around without issue due to her lungs, and write off 35 years and 8 Rheumatologists' opinions and diagnoses so abruptly. She kept saying "I'm not being flippant " (in VERY, VERY flippant way) She seemed VERY defensive. All I asked is "What are you talking about? what about all the other doctors? What about her unbelievable pain?" I didn't say more because I could see the pain in my Mother's eyes. She sent us away with the answer that Tylenol is all she can recommend at this time, and that maybe get an MRI..but only really wants my mom to have it in Pinehurst (again 1 hour from where we live in Fayettveille) . My mom doesn't have a lot of money to be driving back and forth. She then wrote in her patient notes (that went in my mom's chart) that we were "very angry". Anger is very different from shock. Shock of what she was saying... and Shock from HOW she said it. Believe me when I say she has not seen angry!! What my mom and I saw was defensiveness, a terrible bedside manner, and a woman who has obviously NEVER been in severe pain, or NEVER watched someone she loves very much endure severe pain for 35 years. As soon as we got to the car I told my mom "We are 'Shorn' never going to go back to that woman every again!" Now my mom is going to Duke soon. If it is lupus...or whatever the autoimmune issue is (that so many blood tests have confirmed in that past), we will get her the help and pain management she needs and deserves. She has told me she would rather live 5 years without pain..pumped full of steroid and damaging drugs, and be able to do things with her Grandaughters, rather than endure another 10 years crying from pain and praying it will finally just stop. Avoid this unempathetic doctor!!!

Dr. Schorn put my mother through months and months of testing that lead to no results at all. We had to refer ourselves to another rheumatologist, who was able to immediately determine her medical issue, which turned out to be a very common but painful form of arthritis. My mother unessarily suffered in pain for several months due to Dr. Schorns inability to properly diagnose her and or properly refer her to someone that could.

Fantastic Doctor and facility. Dr. Schorn is an amazing doctor! My first appointment was very emotional for me. Telling a new doctor about your journey through Psoriatic Arthritis was difficult. She listened and let me talk about the toll this conditioncondition has had on me. By the end of the appointment we had a plan for treatment. This doctor and her staff are incredible.

Dr. Schorn is an excellent physician in her field. She goes the extra mile to help the patient with disorder/pain symptoms. She is very knowledgeable and has an excellent bedside manner. However, her nursing staff could learn a lot from her.