The bone scan is a good idea, but the primary care physicians are not well equipped to handle special problems. This doctor probably is getting frustrated and should recognize when it is time to refer to a specialist. A podiatrist or orthopedic surgeon would be a good place to start. Possibly an infectious disease specialist.
As a specialist, I see it time and time again. A primary doctor has not referred the patient to me soon enough. Some problems are best caught early and treated early by a specialist before things get out of hand. Some insurance systems reward primary doctors for not referring patients, so the primary doctor's mind set is to treat everything that walks in the door. Well, you know the old saying "jacks of all trades, but the masters of nothing". When things are not going well and problems are not getting better, insist on a specialist for special problems.
Dr. Christina Lasich, MD