t think you should have any qualms about asking the doc specific questions about their specialties, and experience. Unfortunately Iâ€ve gone under the knife for ortho procedures a few too many times IMO... back surgery (x2), rotator cuff, hip replacement, knee arthroscopy. I ask the doctor those same questions every time. Iâ€ve never gotten any condescending responses. In fact...they usually find it refreshing that the patient is showing active concern in their treatment. When I had my hip replaced, I apologized for asking the doc so many questions. His response to me was “Youâ€d be shocked at how many people go into such procedures and donâ€t ask a single question about the procedure, the people in the operating room (other than the surgeon), instruments being used, the device being implanted, etc. Ask! And if you donâ€t like the answers...seek out another doctor/opinion. Also...Iâ€d also suggest that you look up the doctorâ€s record on your stateâ€s Department of Health website. Before my second back surgery I looked up the doctor assigned to do my surgery and discovered that he had previously been sanctioned by the state board of health for a “wrong site†surgery. I immediately contacted my health insurance company and was assigned a new surgeon.
Regarding how you tore your rotator cuff...the lawnmower blade removal...having removed those blades several times...thatâ€s not really surprising to me. I tore mine when I threw a ball for our dog at the beach. My cousin tore herâ€s when she was in a rear-end fender-bender. My doc told me, after the surgery, that he discovered and removed a good amount of bone spur that hadnâ€t shown up on the MRI. He said that it had been wearing away that the muscle over the years and it eventually would have torn through even with a much less traumatic event. Good luck.
Dan
t think you should have any qualms about asking the doc specific questions about their specialties, and experience. Unfortunately Iâ€ve gone under the knife for ortho procedures a few too many times IMO... back surgery (x2), rotator cuff, hip replacement, knee arthroscopy. I ask the doctor those same questions every time. Iâ€ve never gotten any condescending responses. In fact...they usually find it refreshing that the patient is showing active concern in their treatment. When I had my hip replaced, I apologized for asking the doc so many questions. His response to me was “Youâ€d be shocked at how many people go into such procedures and donâ€t ask a single question about the procedure, the people in the operating room (other than the surgeon), instruments being used, the device being implanted, etc. Ask! And if you donâ€t like the answers...seek out another doctor/opinion. Also...Iâ€d also suggest that you look up the doctorâ€s record on your stateâ€s Department of Health website. Before my second back surgery I looked up the doctor assigned to do my surgery and discovered that he had previously been sanctioned by the state board of health for a “wrong site†surgery. I immediately contacted my health insurance company and was assigned a new surgeon.
Regarding how you tore your rotator cuff...the lawnmower blade removal...having removed those blades several times...thatâ€s not really surprising to me. I tore mine when I threw a ball for our dog at the beach. My cousin tore herâ€s when she was in a rear-end fender-bender. My doc told me, after the surgery, that he discovered and removed a good amount of bone spur that hadnâ€t shown up on the MRI. He said that it had been wearing away that the muscle over the years and it eventually would have torn through even with a much less traumatic event. Good luck.
Dan
