Do you think American Doctors are too quick to recommend surgery?

Question

For almost anything. I hurt my thumb bad and the first doctor hardly looked at my x-rays and was like SURGERY SURGERY SURGERY...it's the only way..I need to pin this...suture that...I got a second opinion and the guy was like, you need a specialized splint (wore it for 4 weeks) and to strengthen it with a close pin and rubber band... 6 months later my thumb is as good as new at a fraction of the cost. What gives?

Answer 1

There's a saying: "If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail." Maybe the first doctor didn't have experience with that variety of splint. I'm not saying that some surgeons do not jump at every opportunity to operate, and that some do see patients as a revenue source. I just want to point out that some have different approaches based on experience and training.

Answer 2

Not like they used to be. Most of the doctors I work with save surgery as a last resort because, no matter what they do to take precautions, it always puts the person at risk for infection. You did the wise thing by asking for a second opinion.

Answer 3

for some people it could be driven by money.... But people are obviously going to stick with how they know to fix stuff.... ortho specialists/surgeons are going to say surgery because that is where their knowledge is...all they can share with you is what they know about, a surgeon's knowlege of therapy is pretty much nada..... while other doctors have a better grasp on it....so i think it's pretty much the luck of the draw.... but always opt for a non-surgical approach...and only use surgery as a last result...

Answer 4

My favorite doctor says too many doctors practice what she calls "slash and burn medicine."

Some MDs are physicians, and they write prescriptions for pills.

Some MDs are surgeons, and they recommend surgery.

A lot depends on which kind of doctor you see. It's kind of like auto repair shops. If you go to a brake shop, they'll want to fix your brakes. If you go to a tire shop, they'll want to sell you tires.

See if you can find a doctor who will try to let your body heal itself. A few million years of evolution have developed better remedies than a few years of big drug companies and surgeons.

Answer 5

This is a classic reason why people should seek second opinions when they are in doubt. Unfortunatly with many doctors it does come down to dollar signs.

Answer 6

i agree they wanna practice i think. i get so sick of it and thats like in our hospital here, they wanna let a resident do all the work and practice on ya and i dont like that idea either... "opps i messed up, can you imagine" geeez thats definately no good!!!

Answer 7

Yes.

Answer 8

Money probably.