Second Opinion

[Richard Crowe]

Hopefully this post will find all of you in good health! However, if any of my friends on DK have any serious health problems and/or are contemplating serious (and possibly life changing) surgery, I strongly recommend that you get a second medical opinion before proceeding with that plan of care.

I had serious back problems. My back hurt me so badly that I could not sit up, I had to eat my meals lying down and a car ride was excruciating in the pain that it caused me.

The first orthopedic surgeon that I saw stated that she could operate but warned me that I would always be in pain and would not recover a normal range of motion.

My wife (who is a registered nurse who taught nursing at the college level) researched physicians and we decided on another one for that, all important, second opinion. That doctor specialized in minimally invasive back surgery. I had to wait for an initial appointment and wait longer for the surgery. Which is a good sign, I wouldn't want a doctor whose schedule was so free that he could see me the next day.

Anyway, on the day of my surgery, I could not sit up for the half hour trip to the hospital. My pain was so severe that I had to lie down on the back seat of our car. I was operated on in the early afternoon and the next day walked out of the hospital with just minimal pain and not needing any brace. The pain soon receded and I was absolutely fine. Here is a picture of me not too long after the surgery after I had caught this 40 pound roosterfish. That fish is one of the hardest fighting species in Pacific waters,,,

What prompted me to write this post is that a dog rescue friend was suffering from bone cancer which was centered in her leg. She received radiation and chemotherapy and a local doctor gave her the bad news that he would also have to remove her leg to save her life. My wife recommended that she get a second opinion at the University of California, Los Angeles Medical Center which has a wonderful reputation for cancer treatment.

They told her that: #1 the original doctor ordered the radiation and chemotherapy in the reverse order to which it should have been administered and that they could try to remove the cancer from the leg without amputation.

Anyway, she had the surgery there and it was successful. It appears that they were able top remove all the cancer and have given her a glowing prognosis for full recovery.

Always remember that half the doctors out there probably graduated in the bottom half of their medical school class. Get a second opinion for any serious health issue.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I am glad to hear you are doing well.

[Kathy Janes]

Thank you for the reminder! And it is wonderful to hear of a successful back surgery!

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

Congratulations!  I am so glad you are back pain free.  Live is good.

[Bonnie and Kona]

Thank heavens for this good report. I am so glad you posting this. Celebrating with you!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

So glad to hear the surgery helped you and this is great advice!!

[Ginny Nightingale]

I am so happy for you! That is great--but as a mom of a young man who is in the top third of his medical school class (4th year) I can tell you that they all work very hard and have minimum standards that they have to pass to move on---but there are different opinions as to how to treat things and that is all it is --so, getting a second or even third opinion and finding the doctor that best suits you does not mean finding the best doctor, just the one you are happiest with....in these two cases it worked out, but it is just as possible that it would not have. Two does not a significant sample make!

[Carol and Banjo]

I'm glad your procedure was a success!    Thanks so much for this reminder.   Congrats on your fabulous catch!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Thank you, Richard.  Skip and I are facing procedures for our knees and this reminder for research and second opinions is vital.  It's not our area of expertise so we have been avoiding it, but realize we cannot.

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

Congrats.  Back pain can beso debilitating.