Are You Proactive with Doctors?

Lara

Lara

Friend of the Arts
Location
Mid-Atlantic Coast
Sometimes I feel you have to be proactive with doctors if they are dismissing your concerns. On Day-1 of my broken shoulder, my Orthopedic doctor told me that due to my age, he wouldn't consider surgery (I'm in my 60s). I was okay with that until a few weeks ago when I got a "frozen shoulder" from my injury. I've had 4 months of physical therapy but the pain was so bad in my arm I couldn't sleep, lacked mobility, and was unable to do physical therapy anymore. I canceled my appointments but knew I couldn't give up or my arm would give me trouble for a lifetime.

My orthopedic doctor, my physical therapist, and my primary doctor all insisted I had NO pain and it was just my brain receptors sending messages to my muscles. It was weird. I finally said "listen, I've delivered 4 babies and I know what pain is and I've got pain!". All 3 said said, "Oh your fine". I wasn't fine. They never mentioned "frozen shoulder". I learned about "frozen shoulder" on my own, online (Mayo Clinic). I finally did a complete overhaul of my doctors, replacing all 3.

My new orthopedic doctor said right away that I had frozen shoulder and gave me a shot of "medicine" in my shoulder, which I assumed was cortisone (I should have asked). He said if that didn't loosen up the tissue and relieve the pain then another option is arthroscopy (surgery)....thanky you for not saying I'm too old for that. The shot worked like a charm in 3 days and changed my life physically and emotionally. My new physical therapist, is so much better too, using different techniques and I'm on my way to recovery again.
 

Being "Proactive" about your own health is of paramount importance. Doctors sometimes fail to make a correct diagnosis, so a person needs to explore any symptoms on their own, via excellent sources such as Mayo Clinic, or WebMD. Seeking a 2nd opinion is also a good option if you are not satisfied with the first doctors opinion.
I tore a rotator cuff 4 or 5 years ago, and my doctor sent me to a Sports Medicine specialist who gave me a Cortisone shot, and a series of exercises to perform. Within days, the shot began to work, and a couple of months of the exercises did a good job of healing the shoulder.
Anytime I feel something unusual, I go to the internet and explore the symptoms, and if I have to go to the doctor, I at least have some idea of what may be happening, and that prepares me for any baloney the doctor may try to spout.
 
Today it is imperative that everyone take charge of their own health. I, probably like many of you, see a variety of doctors and none of them communicate with each other or have access to my medical records. So that means it is up to me to watch out for my own health and keep track of my health record. With online access it really isn't that hard to do.

If you have a provider that refuses to listen to you and what your body is saying, find another one who will listen. There is no "test" that can measure pain because it is totally subjective, meaning that only you can tell if you are in pain. A provider that says you have no pain is just wrong.

There are many therapies today that can help with pain and other health issues. Work on keeping yourself educated.
 

You MUST go into any doctor visit with as much, if not more, information concerning your specific ailment, as best you understand it. I have had absolutely the wrong meds prescribed, on occasion, and I have caught those doctors' errors. I have had one doctor to whom I recommended a specific herbal therapy, and he had his nurse call me to tell me he would never doubt me, again.

Listen to your body. NEVER let any doctor tell you that you're not feeling what you know you are. Fire any doctor who goes that route!

Best of luck to you.
 
We used to do health & wellness national shows years ago and Dr. Andrew Weil was one of the speakers. He has said for years that we have to learn to be our own "diagnosticians". He was teaching alternative medicine to doctors.
 
Lara said:
Sometimes I feel you have to be proactive with doctors if they are dismissing your concerns. On Day-1 of my broken shoulder, my Orthopedic doctor told me that due to my age, he wouldn't consider surgery (I'm in my 60s). I was okay with that until a few weeks ago when I got a "frozen shoulder" from my injury. I've had 4 months of physical therapy but the pain was so bad in my arm I couldn't sleep, lacked mobility, and was unable to do physical therapy anymore. I canceled my appointments but knew I couldn't give up or my arm would give me trouble for a lifetime.

My orthopedic doctor, my physical therapist, and my primary doctor all insisted I had NO pain and it was just my brain receptors sending messages to my muscles. It was weird. I finally said "listen, I've delivered 4 babies and I know what pain is and I've got pain!". All 3 said said, "Oh your fine". I wasn't fine. They never mentioned "frozen shoulder". I learned about "frozen shoulder" on my own, online (Mayo Clinic). I finally did a complete overhaul of my doctors, replacing all 3.

My new orthopedic doctor said right away that I had frozen shoulder and gave me a shot of "medicine" in my shoulder, which I assumed was cortisone (I should have asked). He said if that didn't loosen up the tissue and relieve the pain then another option is arthroscopy (surgery)....thanky you for not saying I'm too old for that. The shot worked like a charm in 3 days and changed my life physically and emotionally. My new physical therapist, is so much better too, using different techniques and I'm on my way to recovery again.
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I’m so happy you’re doing well, wow you were treated so shabbily I’m so glad you found new doctors!
 
treeguy64 said:
...I have had absolutely the wrong meds prescribed, on occasion, and I have caught those doctors' errors.
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That reminds me, treeguy. That orthopedic doctor I had first prescribed Percoset which I said I definitely did NOT want cause I knew someone who swelled up from it so much that her appearance was distorted beyond recognition. But the whole time I was talking he was staring at my daughter. I was hoping he was still listening to me but...

When I went to get the prescription filled for this painkiller I noticed for the first time that it said "Percoset". I was shocked but desperate, went home with it, and took it. The next day I took one and a half...because the doctor said to do that if the pain was still there.

I swelled up to epic proportions within 3 days for which the doctor then sent me to get an ultrasound because he thought I was having a DVT. The ultrasound result was normal. But here's what nearly killed me...

I looked up Percoset online...Mayo Clinic. It said, the time-released tablet form, which I had, can kill you if you break it in half because it's power is all released at once. I called the doctor and told him what I read. He laughed and said he gives his client that dosage all the time and nothing has ev...he stopped...and changed the subject. I think he was remembering some serious side effect to one of his patients all of a sudden.
 
Keesha said:
Maybe it's time to seek a new doctor.
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Lara said:
...I finally did a complete overhaul of my doctors, replacing all 3. My new orthopedic doctor said right away that I had frozen shoulder and gave me a shot of...cortisone...to loosen up tissue and relieve pain. The shot worked like a charm in 3 days and changed my life physically and emotionally. My new physical therapist, is so much better too, using different techniques and I'm on my way to recovery again.
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I mentioned in my opening post that I did replace all 3 of my doctors with instant results. It was my example of why it pays to be proactive with your doctors. But my post was too long to read...I couldn't figure out how to shorten it. Sorry about that 😊
 
Lara said:
I mentioned in my opening post that I did replace all 3 of my doctors with instant results. It was my example of why it pays to be proactive with your doctors. But my post was too long to read...I couldn't figure out how to shorten it. Sorry about that 😊
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Oh I see. My mistake. Then you’re all good to go Lara. ❤️
 
Oh Lara..I'm so sorry you've been going through that misery of pain, I had no idea. It must have been hell for you...I had the frozen shoulder last year,it was horrible so I know how you must have felt.

Very happy you got the cortisone injection and it worked.. 🥰
 
Thank you Holly. Oh I feel for you. Did you break your arm or did the frozen shoulder just happen on it's own. I'm curious because my doctor said it happens with or without an injury...when it's immobile for awhile. We have to keep everything moving and stay active the older we get...and that's so not me 🙃...although I was running on the track and playing with the dogs on the field when it happened to me.
 
Have a good friend that has arthritis really bad. She is now taking Enbrel - its $1,000 an injection - luckily she doesn't have to pay it as the VA finally authorized it for her. So far its really helping her.

I've noticed medical issues popping up after emotional induced traumas.
 
Thank goodness, you found a new, good team and that the injection worked. That'll make all the difference in the world with you therapy. Shoulder breaks are no fun per experience even starting out with a great team ....been there, done that. So sorry you've joined the club, but am glad to read about your improvements!
 


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