Doctor appointments

[Delta107]

Hi all!
So, I am sorry, I'm about to complain about some stuff related to scoliosis and doctors' attitude.
So basically last year I went to see a vertebrologist(he is surgeon) who specializes in scoliosis. I worry a lot about this illness, so I went to try and assess just how well founded are my worries. So I handed the x ray, and he took a look, and asked me why I came. So I asked whether this thing progresses in time. He said it looks stable. He didn't order another xray to compare, (the present xray is 4 years old I think.) Nor did he do a physical examination of any kind. And asked whether I want a surgery or not. And he said he does surgeries for esthethic reasons. He did mention this will not progress. At least this is how i interpret this.
So this got me thinking, what the hell did I just waste my money on? Would you say this is an appropriate way to consult patients, or this is just how doctors generally are?

[LindaRacine]

Hi all!
So, I am sorry, I'm about to complain about some stuff related to scoliosis and doctors' attitude.
So basically last year I went to see a vertebrologist(he is surgeon) who specializes in scoliosis. I worry a lot about this illness, so I went to try and assess just how well founded are my worries. So I handed the x ray, and he took a look, and asked me why I came. So I asked whether this thing progresses in time. He said it looks stable. He didn't order another xray to compare, (the present xray is 4 years old I think.) Nor did he do a physical examination of any kind. And asked whether I want a surgery or not. And he said he does surgeries for esthethic reasons. He did mention this will not progress. At least this is how i interpret this.
So this got me thinking, what the hell did I just waste my money on? Would you say this is an appropriate way to consult patients, or this is just how doctors generally are?

Hi Delta...

I'm not sure how many, if any, scoliosis specialists area near you. The Scoliosis Research Society doesn't list anyone in Romania. I personally wouldn't spend a lot of energy hating on someone who was so dismissive, and I would definitely not let him operate on me. (With that said, it's possible that he's already got more patients than he can handle, and doesn't want to see anyone unless they're ready for surgery.)

I did find this: http://www.daruiesteviata.ro/en/alin...es-in-romania/ which I thought might be helpful.

Regards,
Linda

[Delta107]

Ok, thanks I guess that's probably a more healthy attitude.

But, you know I get this impression that doctors just can't stand me as a patient. And when i complain about certain symptoms i get a standard answer - hey do you have any condition? Yeah scoliosis. Ok it's because of scoliosis.
But we're talking here about generic symptoms which can be caused by many things. Got headaches? Scoliosis. Got severe evening motion sickness specifically in an automobile? Scoliosis. I think it's just lazy doctoring. I was just wondering if any forumites clashed with such things before.

[LindaRacine]

Ok, thanks I guess that's probably a more healthy attitude.

But, you know I get this impression that doctors just can't stand me as a patient. And when i complain about certain symptoms i get a standard answer - hey do you have any condition? Yeah scoliosis. Ok it's because of scoliosis.
But we're talking here about generic symptoms which can be caused by many things. Got headaches? Scoliosis. Got severe evening motion sickness specifically in an automobile? Scoliosis. I think it's just lazy doctoring. I was just wondering if any forumites clashed with such things before.

Headaches can be caused by cervical issues, but scoliosis that doesn't involve the cervical area has never been shown to be correlated with scoliosis. Motion sickness also has no correlation that I've ever heard of.

Not to be insensitive, but if you find a lot of doctors being dismissive of you, you might want to consider if you play a role in that behavior. Having spent a lot of time in exam rooms with doctors and patients, I have seen some doctors become dismissive with some patients. I think that happens when the patient spends a lot of time talking about things that aren't related to the specific problem. You might want to try letting the physician ask questions, and answering those questions without a lot of elaboration unless prompted to do so. Sometimes, the amount of information provided is too overwhelming. If a physician blames a symptom on scoliosis, and it seems illogical, you might want to ask if there are any studies to back up their statement.

Hope you find someone who can help.

Best,
Linda

[Delta107]

Ok, thanks, will try that

[titaniumed]

I did find this: http://www.daruiesteviata.ro/en/alin...es-in-romania/ which I thought might be helpful.

Regards,
Linda

Linda, What an excellent find!, and its nice to see scoliosis advocates like Alina.

Delta, I would send Alina an e-mail with your x-ray's and have a talk with her. There is a reason why she is going up into Germany.....I wouldn't place blame on yourself or even any of the doctors. Meeting the right doctor is so important and you will know when you meet this person. Plenty of us have done "doctor tours" meeting all the wrong doctors. I have posted threads with various videos of surgeons so patients can get familiar. Its not an easy thing having to do this alone and especially in pain.

You have a big curve and you are a surgical candidate. I don't know how you feel about it, but when you do have big curves, you have to think about what is going to happen. Curves can stand still but usually over time they do progress especially with bigger curves. Its usually slow, but it does happen.

My whole life changed due to scoliosis. Planning changed my career, and forced change. I think if I were in your position, I would be thinking about traveling up to Germany at some point for a consultation. The e-mailing of x-rays is a good start.

These are the links for the hospital

http://www.schoen-kliniken.de/ptp/kkh/neu/

https://www.schoen-kliniken.de/ptp/k...ersonal/00758/

Ed

[burdle]

there is never any reason why a doctor should be dusmissive. It does not mattter if you talk too much - it is the doctor's job to listen and to be professional. I am sick and tired of hearing that it is ok for doctors to behave like this and for the people who work in medicine to think it is ok. doctors are paid a lot of money- if there were no patients they would have no jobs. Their time is NOT more important than yours . Scoliosis is a complex condition and some of the awful symptoms that cripple us are just dismissed by arrogant doctors .

[LindaRacine]

No one said it was OK. I was not trying to justify it. I was trying to explain it. Doctors are humans, and have bad days, just like the rest of us. If we had patients who were waiting hours to see us, and had one patient taking up 3-4 times as much time as allotted in the schedule, we might all be a bit dismissive.

[Pooka1]

The other thing is most patients are lay people and might misunderstand what he surgeon is telling them. I know I misunderstood things our surgeon told us.

Frankly, there are some things written here by patients about what they were told by their surgeons that I would bet $1,000 was never actually said but rather misinterpreted by the patient. The article about the ballerina with scoliosis is a case in point... it is very easy to show she does not understand her situation and completely misinterpreted what she was told. There is no chance a board certified surgeon told her some of those things. None.

Also, some folks do not understand that chiros are not qualified to treat scoliosis. It is confusing because they are allowed to use the "Dr." title in the US. Some of the wackier things reported here are probably from chiros that the patient didn't realize are not trained.

[burdle]

The other thing is most patients are lay people and might misunderstand what he surgeon is telling them. I know I misunderstood things our surgeon told us.

Frankly, there are some things written here by patients about what they were told by their surgeons that I would bet $1,000 was never actually said but rather misinterpreted by the patient. The article about the ballerina with scoliosis is a case in point... it is very easy to show she does not understand her situation and completely misinterpreted what she was told. There is no chance a board certified surgeon told her some of those things. None.

Also, some folks do not understand that chiros are not qualified to treat scoliosis. It is confusing because they are allowed to use the "Dr." title in the US. Some of the wackier things reported here are probably from chiros that the patient didn't realize are not trained.

I have been a patient of many a dismissive doctor , and frankly I know enough about this condition -its complexity and definition than most doctors I come across. I have had to stand my ground , fight back, offering studies, evidence and just plain logic and have had to put up with misinformation, laxiness, indifference , rudeness and incompetence from many. The ones who treat you with respect shine like beacons amongst their poor counterparts. and no i am not a difficult patient - each clinic letter starts with 'lovely lady' or 'highly intelligent lady' .- but it should not be this way. And doctors should not have 'bad days' at least not enough for their patients to notice. patients often wait months to be seen. It is their moment and the time they have is theirs . I deal with customers and I never have a bad day in so far as what they experience from me is never anything less than professional and of the highest standard ( and I a crippled with pain from scoliosis )And so must it be with.doctors. the days when doctors gave of their time for no monetary reward are long gone. The generation who tidied the house because the doctor was calling and stayed for tea expecting nothing but maybe a jar of marmalade as payment have long gone. Patients always deserve respect and the doctor has to always make the extra effort if needed.

sorry my post should be a stand alone 'reply to thread' and not a reply to sharon's - i agree with sharon's post above. I always struggle with posting when on a phone !