Dont be afraid to ask for a second opinion

luckybug

I was told 2 years ago that I needed a full knee replacement as my joint was knackered. I am only 43 but noticed in my street nearly everyone who reached 60 has had a new knee or hip, asmost of them have pulled me and said they wouldn't cripple around when they can have a new joint, (what they don't understand is I'm a juvenile Rheumatoid arthritic) so joint replacement would not necessarily work on me like it has on them, anyway my Knee specialist told me I should just have a knee replacement, I went back to the rheumatologist and told him I disagreed and wanted a second opinion, he then sent me to see another knee doc, who did an arthroscopy on my knee, after he had done it and my knee began to move, he told me I did not at that moment need a knee replacement, he said my knee was so badly inflamed, so anyone out there, scared or unsure, don't be afraid to ask for a second opinion, I can speak up for myself, I always let the Drs know how I feel about things, after all it's me that has to live with their decisions, it's my body so I have to protect it.

jeannie2

Hi,
Amen to all you say.

Although the following is not arthritis-based … it shows the benefit of a 2nd opinion. Last year I had a very thorough eye test at Eye Clinic by young registrar (painful eye). At follow-up the Consultant said a cataract had been found on each eye … he will make an appointment now to do one eye and later the other. I said I was aware that there were serious implications in doing this. I said I was the only person in the world who could tell him what I could see and that I am presently happy with my level of eyesight. Should the situation deteriorate I would request a re-referral. The following week I went to my own man for my annual glaucoma test. He gave me a thorough eyesight test and told me that there was no sign of cataract on either eye and he wished these people would stop finding things that aren’t there ..’there isn’t an eye surgeon in the country would operate on your eyes’. I still have the same level of sight.

It’s worth a second opinion … I know I may be cynical but I am beginning to feel that there is an element of ‘fee-earning’ going on all over the place.
Jeannie