For much of my adult life I have been skeptical of physicians. It was a skepticism born of familiarity. My bachelors degree is in Biology from a large University where over 90% of the Biology and Chemistry majors I dealt with regularly were pre-med. Through the graduate school process, and afterwards as an instructor, I dealt with more of the pre-med and medical school students. There were some intelligent folks, but then there were a lot who were not so bright, and a few whose ethical compass I found scary. I am not sure how many of those last two groups got weeded out in the medical school process, but let’s say I am not thrilled to be doing a statistical sampling to find out.
Then there have been my own horror story experiences with doctors. When I contracted malaria I knew what I had, and I conveyed that to my primary care physician. The problem is he did not want to believe me and instead chased diagnoses of other exotic diseases (meningitis, encephalitis, and others) all the while failing to order the simple blood test that would determine whether or not I had malaria. That was close to being a fatal mistake. Finally my complaining resulted in a new primary care physician being assigned to me and within hours we had a confirmed diagnosis and treatment started. Then there is the case of my sensitivity to oats. I knew something was wrong and I conveyed the physical symptoms to the physician. He found anomalies in the blood tests, also, but did not want to consider that it all might be food related. Many, many tests later, looking for all sorts of exotic causes, the physician more or less gave up and told me to live with it. So I started my own ‘process of elimination’ food testing and eventually came to discover that oats were the culprit. As soon as I removed oats from my diet the physical symptoms went away and my blood composition returned to a more ‘normal’ state.
For the last few years I have been trying to put aside my past biases and to work with my physicians. And that is what I was doing with the orthopedic surgeon in regards to my hip. I have followed her orders, so far, to the letter. But now it is time for me to consider going outside those bounds. I was content until yesterday when I learned that she did not want to give me the extra leash I think I can use. All I asked for was a referral for Physical Therapy. I am progressing well, and think that I could use some help to guide my recovery. But the orthopedic surgeon says no, and that if she decides I should have PT that decision will come after my next visit … 5 weeks from today. Note that she may still decide against it, and from the tone of her message I take it that is a distinct probability.
So now it is time to go against doctors orders and to see about starting on a physical therapy plan. A friend who is a DPT suggested the exercise I did in the swimming pool on Monday, and she is coming by tonight to assess my ‘walk’ (as it is) and to determine what I need to work on to get to the goal of walking without aids (crutches/canes/etc.).
There are times to be compliant and follow directions. And there are times to decide that perhaps there are alternatives.
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Of course, he is being disobedient with the knowledge and consent of The Boss, I mean, The Wife.
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I know what you mean…often Doctors are over-cautious and don’t understand the mind and body of the competitive athlete…or even someone who is not a couch potato! I had a similar issue with my doctors last year. The orthopedist in my insurance plan wanted to keep me off the bike for 2-3 months! The sports orthopedist also was conservative at first…but after 4.5 weeks when he looked at the MRI and saw that the bone had healed…he was all systems go! He basically told me I could ride again right then and there…because he knew I was going to anyway! I did my own PT, and I’m happy to say 11 months later I have full mobility and strength in that shoulder!
Good luck. Listen to your body.
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It’s one thing to be denied for an extra leash, but it’s another matter for the MDs to describe why to fully convince/convey you of their decisions and suggestions. If your insurance (or wallet) allows, can you explore other opinions?
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It’s always a good idea to consider the advice of a professional, but remember they are merely “practicing” medicine.
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Sometimes physicians don’t understand a patient’s need to feel like they are doing something to contribute to their healing. There is great healing power in feeling like you have some power in your healing.
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oops, that was me!
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in general, i wish they’d just listen to us a little bit more. just listen to what we have to say.
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Ms Chatterbox – Of course; I would never openly violate orders without your approval
Doc Kim – Yes, listen to the body. I think a lot of times the problem is they target towards an average, or even less, recovery profile. I shall listen … to the body that is.
Twinkie – I can always use the wallet to go outside the bounds. Harder to get the insurance company to agree to pay a 2nd orthopedic surgeon just so they can then pay for PT. The whole point of getting the ortho to do a referral is that the PT is then covered by the insurance. For now I will use the consultation of a friend who is a DPT.
Margin – yes, ‘practicing’.
Sabine – Wisdom.
Lauren – Yes. We have first hand knowledge about how we feel, and what seems to work. The physicians have, at best, second hand knowledge.
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Ah – the rebellious fighter spirit is coming out. That’s a good sign.
You go and do what you need to do. Listen to your body.
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