When to switch doctors?

[spyrosmom]

So I am due at the orthopeidest's (sp?) office in about 20 mins for a nagging knee problem. I had surgery last year and it was fine til earlier this summer when I managed to get a stress fracture in my kneecap & tibia, and tear the cartilage and meniscus of my knee. Thankfully no surgery this time and thing were going along swimmingly til about 2 wks ago. I now have workout pain and a ache I can't shake. I'm going back today for what's supposed to be my final follow up but it doesn't seem like it will be. The Dr I have is supposed to be the best in town. So do I have a Dr who's misdiagnosing and do I need to switch, or do I just have a defective leg? Everything went really well w/ the surgery last summer so I trust him, however he always seems very rushed and I feel that sometimes he has a set diagnosis before any tests comeback and that diagnosis is what is has to be regardless of any test results. If the last test (mri, xray) are showing healed then why does it still hurt?!?!?!?? I don't care what the freakin' tests say, I know when something isn't right. My leg is attached to ME, no one else. Do I find another Dr and let him take a look? I feel like I'm cheating if I do. On the other hand, I'm sure it wouldn't be the 1st time he's had someone ask for a 2nd opinion. I'm just so frustrated. Any advice?

Nan

 

[AEHaight]

I would get the 2nd opinion. Why put up w/ the pain to make HIM feel better? Like you said, something clearly isn't quite right.

Could be the original injury/surgery is healed but that something else is going on and he's just not seeing it.

Good luck!

 

[johnson03]

Hmmm. That's a toughie. I think you should express your concerns to him about your continued pain despite the fact that he thinks you are improving. You will probably need to be quite direct with him as he sounds like he is very busy (as most doctors are). You should defintitely not feel bad about getting a second opinion, even if he gives you satisfactory explinations/answers. You are your best advocate, and no one will advocate for you! Good luck. Please let us know how things go.

ETA that 1. just because you get a second opinion doesn't mean you need to change doctors and 2. most doctors are not offended when their patients get second opinions

Also, I just reread your post and it sounds like something has changed since the last time you saw him (new or worse pain). Maybe once you tell him about this development he will need to re-examine the new situation. You could have (heaven forbid) exacerbated you injury or even deveolped a new one. Again, good luck!