Is it a macho thing? Are they afraid? Can they just not be bothered? I have a friend in his fifties who was kicked hard by a cow yesterday. He's home with his leg up, but its so swollen he can't move and hurts like the very devil, and he refuses to see a doctor. Can you explain the thinking behind this?
2006-07-27 03:12:55 · 18 answers · asked by Crooks Gap 5 in Social Science ➔ Psychology
We hate to be in such a place of weakness with another man. If I'm sitting in your living room getting your care and attention, that is a good thing. If I'm sitting in the exam room (2 or 3 hour wait, of course) and the doctor finally shows up, he usually condescends to me and tells me all the ways he knows more than I know. That is the gut feeling most of us have from that experience.
Plus, we don't want to use up our disposable income to be told that we are stupid for getting injured and that we should just sit with the leg up for another week before trying to put any weight on the leg.
It would be better for me if the doctor is a woman. A woman's gentle touch is always healing to me.
2006-07-28 01:38:34 · answer #1 · answered by ? 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is a misplaced macho/pride thing trying to cover the fear that if they go to the doctor, they are saying they are weak.
Many men believe themselves indestructible, want to show the world that, "they can take it" and end up instead demonstrating pure stupidity, such as your friend. If there is a severe injury, which is very possible in this case, it could end up that he will be crippled for life, or even end up dead.
Cow/horse/mule kicks easily can severely damage the leg by breaking bones and extreme swelling can cause major problems also. Tell him if he doesn't give a fig for himself, at least have enough guts to care for the future of his family (if he has one). If he refuses to get medical help, his family should increase his life insurance to the max so they will be protected.
Note that when men are too macho to get the help they need, they always manage to make it very hard for the people who have to care for them. I am for leaving them to fend for themselves (I know they can't) until they give in and allow you to call an ambulance and get them to the hospital.
BTW, someone ought to tell him that if it is a break and it heals improperly (crippling him) the only way to fix it then is to re-break the bone and he will be back to square one..
2006-07-27 10:35:00 · answer #2 · answered by Seikilos 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Men normally can endure pain for a while when there is no open wound or blood involved, just hoping for the pain to subside shortly or the next day. In your friends case I think he is plain stubborn. An injury that caused a lot of pain and the swollen leg needs urgent treatment. Take him to a doctor for an Xray.
2006-07-27 10:28:18 · answer #3 · answered by john j 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My hubby and I have been together for 5 years, and he has gone to the doctor 2 times(both for strep throat). He has had some fairly serious injuries, but refused to go! I think he is scared, he said he hates needles. It's also a macho thing. They don't want to admit how badly something actually hurts. Lords forbid they let us see them in pain!! lol
2006-07-27 10:25:04 · answer #4 · answered by momx4 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, seeing a doctor is like admitting you are weak to alot of guys. Admitting that it hurts is like a sign of weakness. Lol, I injured my hand (dislocated and fractured, actually) and didn't see a doctor for 2 months. It didn't get any better, so I went to see a doctor. He told me that if I had come in before it healed up that he'd have just given me a cast... now I am scheduled for surgery to correct the problem. Tell your friend to not be a D**k like me!
2006-07-27 10:21:30 · answer #5 · answered by gamerguy12003 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well with my fiance he just dosent worry about himself....even about stuff that he should worry about. So of course he never thinks he needs to go to the doctor. He just never thinks it's important enough. Strangly enough though he DOES worry about my health all the time. I can complain about a stomache ache and he'll want me to see the doctor. Granted I have alot of health problems but I dont need to see the doctor over some gas! lol!
2006-07-27 10:30:20 · answer #6 · answered by Crystal L 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have a lot of male friends who won't admit it, but it's pretty clear they're terrified of the doctor. I had a coworker ruin his hand forever because he refused to go to the doctor when he tore something.
I'm going to school to be a dentist, so I imagine I'll be meeting a lot of people who are afraid... I wish there was a way to convince people not to be afraid.
2006-07-27 10:18:55 · answer #7 · answered by jeffcogs 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It could be a pride issue, some are embarrassed of how they were hurt and yes some just don't want to be bothered by doctors pocking and prating at them.
2006-07-27 10:27:08 · answer #8 · answered by NICOLE D 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if the legs still attached its not that bad in our eye's :}
we have to knocked out cold for another guy to say wow you may have to go see a doc.Yes it is the macho world we are brought up in..cu
2006-07-27 10:19:41 · answer #9 · answered by candiesman05 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've realized that with my husband he is just scared shiitless! He doesn't like needles and can't see blood, not even a like movie or tv show that is staging a like surgery or body injury. He's squeemish (if that's how you spell it).
So bottom line, they are scared I think.
2006-07-27 10:20:43 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋