(no subject)

[disneydream06]

Medical Update...

I am so pissed off.
On November 23rd I saw the Internal Medicine PA for my sore heels. I was not thrilled to be getting sent to a Internal Med PA, but was told he specializes in orthopedic issues.
He examined me and we talked. He basically told me the best way to deal with the bone spurs that I have was to have this new surgery where they make a small cut in the back of the heel and use a little ultrasonic device that breaks up the spur and sucks it out.
He made a surgical referral to Sports Medicine to arrange it.
I thought great as long as they don't make me wait to have the surgery until March or something like that.
I looked up the doctor they had me scheduled to see at Sports Medicine and he was a Rehabilitation doctor. I did not like how that sounded.
My appointment was yesterday and sadly my feelings were accurate.
The doctor I saw basically told me that the surgery would do nothing for my problem and that the bone spurs were not my problem.
WTF?????????????????????
He told me that my achilles tendons had been injured and then as they healed the fibers kind of got all twisted. My words not his.
He says the best treatment is therapy.
SERIOUSLY???????????????????
How did I go from one person telling me surgery to the next one saying surgery was no good?
I had to laugh to myself at one point because the doctor said You're skeptical right? I can see it. I responded yes I was when one person tells me one thing and then he was telling me the complete opposite.
He tells me that after a month if there is no improvement I was to come back in and we could consider other measures.
I cannot help but wonder if I had been sent to a surgical doctor, for the surgical consult, if I wouldn't have gotten a different answer. Of course a rehab doctor is going to pursue a rehab route. Right?
My first therapy appointment is at 8:30 this morning. Needless to say, I will be a reluctant client.

Comments

[chaquir.livejournal.com]

sheeeeeeeeeezzzzzzzzzzzz they just want you to do what fits in their domain.
Can't you get a 3rd opinion somehow??
I would be sooo pissed also, you feel like a ball being played amongst docs.

[thespian15.livejournal.com]

If I pushed enough I could probably get another opinion, but unless you are 90 years old and half dead, they will not do surgery until you have messed around with all the "conservative" treatments first. UGH........
At least that's what they keep telling me. :(

[chaquir.livejournal.com]

your medical system just sucks SO much!!!!

[thespian15.livejournal.com]

Totally. :(

[chaquir.livejournal.com]

pffffffffffffff and not a single President seems to be able to solve it

[thespian15.livejournal.com]

They don't care because they get health care paid for by us for the rest of their lives.

[chaquir.livejournal.com]

URGH!!!!

[merlinwon.livejournal.com]

Hopefully the therapy will help!

♥

[thespian15.livejournal.com]

Fingers crossed extra tight. :o

[restoman.livejournal.com]

I would be skeptical too!
When I had heel spurs some years ago, I got successful treatment from a Podiatrist. It was easy, painless, with no surgery involved, but did take about a month. He taped up my foot in such a way as to relieve the tendon's tendency to pull on its connection to the heel bone. It gave me instant relief from the pain and has lasted for years with only one recurrence, which I was able to treat myself.
I think its time for a third opinion.
Good Luck!
*Hug*

[thespian15.livejournal.com]

WOW...
For the time being I am going to play their games and give the therapy a months time and see where things are then. :o
You would think I would learn my lesson and just live with the pain instead of getting mixed up with the Clinic run around. :o

[owlstorm_9]

If it goes away without surgery - Great! Would be nice if the docs were all on the same page !! My faith in the system just dipped a bit...

[thespian15.livejournal.com]

EXACTLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If the first guy hadn't told me that the next step could be surgery, I wouldn't be so upset now. :o

[kaishin108.livejournal.com]

That is SO crazy! It makes it hard to know what to do, *sigh*.
I do know that surgeons push surgery though. What if you tried the PT for a month and if it doesn't help, go back?
Oh jeez, I really feel for you, why do they have to make it so confusing?!
Hugz,
Helen

[thespian15.livejournal.com]

Well, I go back for a follow up in two weeks.
Is it wrong of me to say, part of me wishes that things don't improve? UGH.........

[kaishin108.livejournal.com]

No no I understand that but please tell yourself the main thing is, is that it gets better!
Sending you good thoughts Jon,
Hugz

[thespian15.livejournal.com]

I understand.
It just seems that whenever I get physical evidence for symptoms I have, I get told it has nothing to do with my problems. Now with the bone spurs and previously when they found a growth/tumor in the part of my brain that controls balance, oh no, it has nothing to do with my dizziness issues. UGH..........

[kaishin108.livejournal.com]

Oh oh I see! As if you are imagining it all, hello!! MDs are so very weird these days. I didn't know you had issues of being dizzy. These bodies of ours, if it isn't one thing it is another or, all at the same time.
Sending you good thoughts.

[thespian15.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I have had that problem for some where around 7 or so years.
My doctor's opinion seems to be, if I can live with these problems he's okay with that. :(

[kaishin108.livejournal.com]

They might as well just say, "Deal with it", the way they act sometimes.
:-(

[thespian15.livejournal.com]

Exactly. :(
They let you spend a small fortune on tests and then say, Oh well... :o

[howlin-wolf-66.livejournal.com]

I hope that you eventually find some solid answers, from somewhere! :-(

[thespian15.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't be so pissed if the first guy I saw didn't have me convinced that surgery was the next step and then have the next guy say No way.
If everybody would have said, we need to try some therapy before we do anything else. UGH...

[thewhispersofme.livejournal.com]

UGH!! I feel your pain, literally....I have heel spurs on my right foot. I would get another opinion from a surgeon and then make a decision.

Good Luck
Hugs

[thespian15.livejournal.com]

I will give him the month's time, but after that, if things are improving... :o

[halfmoon-mollie.livejournal.com]

well, I know you hate to fool around for another month but...since my surgery I am strong advocate of therapy. Bone spurs are awful, I'm so sorry, so painful1 Does your insurance allow a second opinion?

[thespian15.livejournal.com]

It does, but the last time I did it, it was like the doctor just read my doctor's not and read it back to me word for word. IMHO, second opinions within one medical center are questionable. :( And our insurance barely covers anything outside of the system.

[britalone.livejournal.com]

Oh no! I can imagine how you feel. Good luck with the appointment x

[thespian15.livejournal.com]

Thanks. Therapy appointment was okay, but the guy I saw was on his last day in the therapy department, which means when I go back for first follow up, I have to see yet another new person. Ugh.....

[britalone.livejournal.com]

Oh for goodness sake!! It's so hard to get continuity of care isn't it? I've just made an appointment to see my doctor, I've got to wait 4 weeks! Of course if I don't care who I see I could get one straight away, but then you have to explain the problem all over again, and then they will have different ideas on how to treat you...........yada yada
Fingers crossed you will get the correct treatment soon x

[thespian15.livejournal.com]

I know it's rather sick to say, but a small part of me hopes the therapy doesn't do the trick so I can go back and say, Wanna try again? UGH........

[britalone.livejournal.com]

I totally get that. At the end of the day you want the problem treated properly and the pain to go. I don't think that's too much to ask. Good luck.

[thespian15.livejournal.com]

Thank you. :)

[davesmusictank.livejournal.com]

Yep, no wonder you are pissed off.

[thespian15.livejournal.com]

The system gets you coming and going. UGH.........

[ashmedai.livejournal.com]

Oh damn, that sucks! :(

*hugs*

[thespian15.livejournal.com]

Thank you. :)

[bangdrum.livejournal.com]

That sucks! Why didn't they refer you to a surgical doctor?

[thespian15.livejournal.com]

That's the $64,000 question. :o

[ellierachael.livejournal.com]

Just shows that the treatment you get is completely dependent on the opinions of the doctor you see! Urgh

[thespian15.livejournal.com]

And whether it's working or not is so subjective.
One day my heels don't feel too bad, but the next they are quite sore. And it was that way before I went to the doc. So it the "therapy" working or isn't it? UGH.......

[endlessblush.livejournal.com]

So what's the update?

(and I'm hate to think of the bill!)

[thespian15.livejournal.com]

"Doing" therapy.
Seemed to feel better. Then Wednesday it hurt like hell again. :o
Oh yes, they keep right on adding to the bill. ARGH..........

[endlessblush.livejournal.com]

What a nightmare :(

[thespian15.livejournal.com]

Yes, it is my nightmare, and I wish I would wake up. UGH...