Doctor's "Advice"

[Blackberry]

I went to my doctor because my knee's hurt so bad it was hard to walk. I have torn the cartlidge in my right knee before & had surgery on it. So I know what that feels like. And both of my knee's hurt like I have torn cartlidge which is understandable when you take into consideration my huge weight gain in the last few years.

So I had MRI's done on both knees and today I get a note from my doctor------you know the kind, like when you have labs done or a pap & they send you a note saying that everything is normal. Well this is what he wrote on mine:

Right knee: osteoarthritis/ chronic bursitis/ tear on medial meniscus
Left knee: osteoarthritis/ chronic bursitis

Take anti-inflammatory; lose weight

Am I wrong to think he should have had me schedual an appointment so that we could discuss the findings of the MRI's? He's telling me in this note that my cartlidge is torn but offers no treatment for it but to lose weight....??? Oh, and it's not like I have not been trying to lose weight, I have been trying for months with almost no luck. I can't excersize because I can barely walk. I have food issues and have cut down what I eat but it is obviously not enough because I keep bouncing between the same 4 lbs.

Maybe I should see another doctor or do you think he'd just tell me to lose weight too? Opinions please.....................

TIA
Stephanie

[ncmic]

Hi Stephanie,

I am sorry you were treated that way. That doctor has no right to treat you that way.

I am pretty much like you. Overweight and bad knees. I also have other health problems also. I have Osteoarthritis in my knees also. When I first started having problems with my knees, about 10 years ago, I went to a doctor for it. He looked down at my knees, looked up at me and said "Well, I'm sure there's some damage in there, but you are just going to have to deal with it". He didn't say another word about them, and didn't give me any tests or anything. Needless to say, he's not my doctor anymore.

Over the years, I have heard of many doctors who blame everything on weight. I knew one woman who went to the doctor for an ingrown toenail, and the doctor blamed that on her weight!!!! :mad:

There are better doctors out there. The doctor I have now has never blamed anything on my weight. He treats me like a person.

If it's possible, I would try to find a doctor that understands what you are going through, and will help you. There are good doctors out there.

Joyce R.

[Donnagg123]

for the bursitis and the osteoartritis the antiinflammitory was probably correct, but from what I read about the tear on the meniscus that may be more serious. I found this:

http://www.arthroscopy.com/sp05005.htm


DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT
When a physician is evaluating an injured knee, a history is taken to determine the specific problems that a patient is having with the knee. Next a physical examination of the area will be performed to determine the site of the pain, the presence or absence of physical findings that are known to be associated with a torn meniscus, and x-rays are performed to identify other abnormalities that may give similiar problems to those of a torn meniscus. In some instances, additional diagnostic tests such as an MRI may be ordered. If the history and physical findings indicate that a tear is present, arthroscopic surgery may be indicated for treatment.

HTH an I hope you feel better :):)

[Blackberry]

for the bursitis and the osteoartritis the antiinflammitory was probably correct, but from what I read about the tear on the meniscus that may be more serious.




Yeah, I have already had arthroscopic surgery on my right knee for torn cartlidge, and now more of it has torn.

I am definately going to find another doctor. Thanks for the info.

[iluvmybaby]

My advice to you is get a new Dr, if you were in so much pain that you went through ALL those tests obviviusily you were worried/concerned, do NOT go to a Dr where a two way line of communication does not happen, he/she should have taken the time to go over the test results in detail and how you could make improvements in your lifestyle to help relieve the pain. I walked out of the Dr's office before because this Dr said I was obese and that was my problem.
I would go to your Drs office and ask for your test results and take them to maybe get a second opinion.
So sorry you are going through this, hugs, I have arhtrities in BOTH of my knees and I am only 21, I am one of those "chuffy"girls too

[gonnascream]

get a second opinion ASAP !!!! I had to have my knee completly rebuilt from a car wreck, several surgerys, and it still hurts. everything he listed for you, I have seen on my charts, PLUS SOME !

honey cartlidege NEVER regrows. the pain can be eased with pills, but that stuff is like the rubber on a car tire. Once it's starts going bald, you got problems.

If I had to guess anything, my moneys on a complete arthroscope with full debriement and possible a pin to fix the torn menicuis :(

[justinenycole26]

UGH! My ortho told me the same thing. My PCP told me I needed to lose LOTS of weight but refused to even discuss weight loss surgery, Meridia or Atkins. So basically he wanted nothing to do with helping me to lose the weight that he told me I HAD to lose. Guess who is not my PCP anymore??????

[Blackberry]

UGH! My ortho told me the same thing. My PCP told me I needed to lose LOTS of weight but refused to even discuss weight loss surgery, Meridia or Atkins. So basically he wanted nothing to do with helping me to lose the weight that he told me I HAD to lose. Guess who is not my PCP anymore??????

I know!! Whenever I would bring up my concerns about my weight (I need to lose about 150 lbs) my regular doctor would just hand me a Weight Watchers pamphlet. I inquired about Meridia and she said she didn't perscribe diet pills. You can guess why I don't see her anymore. And now this other doctor in the same office is just as useless as she was. I need to find a new clinic with "real" doctors who don't mind practicing medicine!

[Army-Mom]

I am really sorry that your dr. treated you this way..I also have osteoarthritis in my knees and have had scope surgery in both knees at the same time..ouch is all I can say about that...I also need to lose weight , I just try and eat right. I know that exersize is really hard with a body that hurts all the time..I go to pain managment and wear a pain patch 24/7 so I do know the meaning of pain...I have found that a treadmill is helping me and I am starting to feel alot better also..I have worked my time up to 35 minutes a day but hey I am trying to get to 1 hour in the morning and 1 hour in the afternoon so I am going to keep pluging at it...if you want a diet buddy and would like to e-mail back and forth PM me for my e-mail address..
hugs,
Marcia

[catdance]

I have re-read this, and here is the thing.. hate your Dr. for the terrible treatment you have recieved, just ghastly..I would as it has been suggested, get another Dr., explain all this, get you records transfered..this sounds just "ICKY", what a way to pay for treatment, I might go further and complain about this sort of treatment, what has happened to, "bedside manner"..anyways..? I am sending you ((HUGS)), you were not treated in a fair, caring or humane way..at all!

[schsa]

Change doctors. And then write your doctor a note that states that if he would rather send a note than have an office appointment you would rather have a better doctor.

You shouldn't have to put up with that sort of behavior. It is inexcusable.