Something that's been nagging at me for the past couple weeks and with the vast knowledge and experience all y'all have among you, I just want to know what you think.
When I went to the doctor a couple weeks ago, I told my doctor about some pain I was having in my right arm and hand. She tried to blow it off but I insisted that she listen. As y'all might know who have read my history at HIGTBM, I cannot have any problems with that. Her reaction was to schedule me physical therapy -- no exam; no questions; no referral to an orthopedist. Correct me if I'm wrong but going to physical therapy without a diagnosis seems pretty damn stupid to me. Physical therapists are not doctors -- they follow instructions.
I have no idea what she ordered for me -- God forbid she tell me -- but since she didn't even try to find out what exactly the problem is, I really don't think I should even attempt to see the physical therapist. I can't risk an incorrect diagnosis given my situation. I also can't let this get worse -- which it will, if I don't get proper treatment.
So I ask y'all: What do you think? Am I nuts? Is the doc nuts? Any advice or assistance is welcome.
Happy Blogging!!!!!!!!!!!
Kay
Gosh, I don't know, Sylvia. Both times that I went to a physical therapist, my doctors had X-rays or MRIs and such done to determine what the problem was before I went for a physical therapy. Perhaps a second opinion?
ReplyDeleteI really love my doctor, but if she did that to me, I'd go back and tell her that I'm unhappy with the last visit. I'd tell her my concerns (just like you just told us) and that I want her to give the problem a little more thought. And if she took offense, or did nothing further, I'd get another doctor.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Steph. There has to be a way of communicating your need to understand what it is you have and how she is considering healing it. Tell her you want to understand so that you can mentally, as well as physically stand behind the cure.
ReplyDeleteWhat Steph said. Also the probability that the MD had the holidays on her mind and wasn't focused. I suspect there's a lot of that going around right now.
ReplyDeletePhysical Therapy is tailored to your specific degree of injury or limitation so just what is the PT prescribed for? Surely your doctor could at least tell you that. If not you'll find out when (and if) you go.
ReplyDeleteHi, Kay,
ReplyDeleteConsensus here is: find another doctor. Yours sounds like a malpractice suit waiting to happen. I also think Steph has a good idea. Is your doctor part of a clinic practice? If she is, perhaps a letter of compliant to the director or governing board might help. If you do decide to get another doctor interview the candidates first and get a feel for them.
The doctor definitely needs to give you answers...and not brush you off! What's up with that??
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't go to PT without a diagnosis. You're not nuts! Your doctor, on the other hand...
Well, good luck.
I'm in agreement with everyone else. I'd try to get a clearer answer from her. It could be that she really doesn't know what it is and doesn't want to say, and unless you press her, she's not going to order the necessary, (and expensive), tests to find out. Doctors are often bound by cheap-ass insurance companies who discourage them from doing tests unless they think it may be something serious.
ReplyDeleteI would talk to her and insist on a second opinion, from a doctor of my own choosing.
ReplyDeletePain in your hand and arm could be from a subluxation in your upper spine, and physical therapy for the hand will not help that!
Kay ...I would change doctors. Find another one. Ask around to friends, acquaintances, etc. I had a doctor one time who blew me off like that about terrible headaches and I changed doctors. Good thing I did as my new doc did tests and found out I had temporal arteritis which left untreated, could have led to blindness.He treated me with cortisone etc and I recovered.
ReplyDeleteI hope you feel A OK soon.
I have had similar experiences with doctors lately. I don't know who to trust. I don't have insurance and since an initial appointment costs more, I can't afford to get second opinions, and I occasionally wonder if my uninsured status affects my diagnosis.
ReplyDeleteIn your situation I think I'd call the doctor back and ask the nurse what the diagnosis was, how it was arrived at, and what the PT will do for you. Maybe a nurse reading your chart would be able to explain what the doctor's thinking was. Good luck!
I want to thank you all for your excellent input. I'd already thought of some of it but your input really helped verify that I was right and I appreciate it. I knew y'all would come through for me!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm a little late on the bandwagon, Kay, but I wanted to add that before my RA was diagnosed the doctor sent me for physical therapy, probably at the risk of offending me by referring me to a psychiatrist which is what I'm sure he thought I needed. The very nature of RA is that the more you use the affected part of the body the worse the inflamation becomes until you can't move the joint at all. I went dutifully to PT as I was raised to be a good girl, but boy was I relieved when the PT himself finally put a halt to therapy one day when I burst into tears because I could hardly drag myself from place to place by that time. Sometimes it's easier to refer you to PT than it is to try and figure out what might be wrong. I'm with some of the others: either a new doctor or like someone suggested, call the nurse or assistant and ask just what the diagnosis was and just what the PT is supposed to accomplish. Doctors are just people after all.
ReplyDelete