How do you get a doctor to listen to you?

Question

I had a Calcaneonavicular coalition removed twice, once almost four years ago and then a different doctor went back in last October to remove more of it. After that I am still in pain. Since the last surgery I have been on Vicoden whenever the pain is unbearable, tried inserts, had a cortisone shot injected into the surgery spot, and now am wearing an AFO. The only difference the AFO is making is now my calf doesn’t hurt. But with it I still have that pain on the outside and heel of my foot. And now it includes the top part of my ankle and I have swelling on the inside of my foot and up my ankle. It seems like all that this doctor cares about is that I have started arthritis in where the space where the bone used to be and said that is where the pain is coming from. Does that explain the swelling on the other side thou? And what about the pain on the top of my ankle? How do you tell him you don't care if its surgery again, you just want to be able to walk without pain? Any ideas?

Answer 1

Sounds like you need a new doctor. Find a new one and make sure he does an MRI. It is quite common for male doctors to ignore female complaints, especially young females. It's their chauvinism.

Answer 2

While I don't have any personal experience with your specific needs, I have had many challenges with being able to communicate with my physicians. From my experience I have learned to make a complete list of all my symptoms. The doctors don't usually have enough time to go through my entire list in one visit. But a few appreciate my lists enough to look at it themselves to see if any of the symptoms are from the same cause. The symptoms which are left over are the ones that go to the top of the list for the next visit. They all ask me to identify which symptom or symptoms are the most pressing.
Since your symptoms all seem to be related to the same illness, you want the physician to look at them all. If I were you, I would also list my question as to whether arthritis can also cause the swelling and be the source of all the pain you are experiencing.
Be sure to make your handwriting legible, or print your list out in a large font -make the appointment as easy for your doctor as you can.
Also know: pain radiates to other areas, even the opposite side from where the site of injury is. Sometimes, when you have had as radical a change as you have, there may be pain for quite some time after the surgery.

Answer 3

Talking to the doctor can be an intimidating experience for some people. It helps to remember that they are people too the same as you or me that make mistakes. I know, I type medical reports for a hospital and believe me, they are "precious" at times. Sometimes it is best if you ask forward questions. Look them in the eye. Challenge them in a polite way, to use the knowledge they have. Ask why? What if? Have you considered? Have you seen this before? Can you show me pictures?

I just went to the doc for a weird rash on my hands the other day and she diagnosed it in 5 seconds. I was skeptical and was asking her to show me pictures, if there might be other etiologies or causes for the rash. She spent more than enough time proving to me what she believed was right.

All in all, the doctors are there to help you. You are paying for a service. Make them work for it.

Good luck.

Answer 4

Just be very persistent. A similar situation happened to my mom where no one believed she had something else wrong with her but the Dr. sent her away. Turned out she had galbladder stones and had had to have it immediately removed.

Anyway, point is you have to get upfront and persistent with these Dr.'s if you really want them to do what you want them to. If this doesnt, work you may want to try even going to the ER or finding another Dr. and one that will take care of your concerns. Don't let them tell you there's nothing they can do and send you off because you are the patient you have a right to get the help you want you pay enough for the damn insurance :P

Good luck!

Answer 5

i would definetly get the opinion of another podiatrist, orthopod, or even a physical therapist. Or get all three to do a consult. To explain the swelling... it could be a number of things. Arthritis does literally mean "joint inflammation", so the tissue is definitely irritated, make sure it's not infected. Like i said, i'd definitely get a second opinion.

Answer 6

It is terrible when you go to a clinic for an appointment and you have a different doctor (neurologist for me in the Veterans clinic) when they don't open the file.

I had an aneurysm operation and two days later a stroke with aphaisa when I could not communicate, unable to speak. On one appointment, I sat down to see this new "neurologist" when he did no open my file what my problem was, he asked, "What's wrong with you?"

I was not able to speak well and I was angry so I told him, "I have a big problem with my toes."

"Oh, no," he said, "you are in the wrong clinic."

I was ready to shout and I did with good English. "You bimbo, open my file!"

He was shocked and feel stupid when he opened my file when he knew I had had a stroke and a brain surgery.

So if the doctor does not want to listen, just SHOUT "YOU ARE A BIMBO!" Then they will understand when they learned how hear English or wherever they are from.

Answer 7

tell him that you just want to walk w/o pain and dont care if it requires surgery or not [ =

Answer 8

If your doctor wont listen then see another. Hope u get better soon xxx

Answer 9

Get a second opinion, or a third if you have to.

Answer 10

Put him in an arm bar and he will listen.