Iris - doctors not telling all

[Guest guest]

Hello, Iris, and a belated welcome to you! I'm sorry you are not feeling

well and that you are wondering about your diagnosis, but I've enjoyed

reading your posts.

I think your question about why doctors don't tell us about everything

they learn about us is a good one. There are probably many reasons they

don't let us know about some lab results, clinical findings, and

discoveries made through other diagnostic tests. For example, there is

the anxiety factor. Why worry the patient unnecessarily? Sometimes he or

she believes you don't need to know and that as long as he or she is

aware of it and it's in your medical record, that is sufficient.

Sometimes the doctor may not believe the finding is significant. Other

times the physician may not understand how it applies to you - an

abnormality is found, but you are not symptomatic. The doctor wonders

about the value of revealing such a finding.

As for the rheumatologist you encountered who wouldn't see you without a

referral, that's just that particular rheumatologist's preference. Some

rheumatologists and other specialists operate that way. Since the

average rheumatologist is overburdened, some would like to screen up

front and make sure the patients they see truly need an appointment with

a rheumatologist. Another reason is that they could in fact want another

doctor to help manage your case. That is, the rheumatologist can make or

confirm the diagnosis and outline the treatment plan, but the family

doctor can implement it.

You're welcome for the links!

Re: [ ] Sacroiliac joint dysfunction

> , Thanks for this article. About 10 years ago

> when I was trying to find out why I was having this

> constant, aching pain radiating from my hip down my

> leg, I had an MRI which showed that I was born with a

> portion of the Sacroiliac joint that did not close.

> The DR never told me about this. I read it in the

> radiologist report when I was getting copies of all my

> medical records. One of these articles discussed

> this. I have found, like the article stated, that

> chiropractic has helped this problem. However, I do

> not allow chiropractor to touch my neck because there

> are too many problems there and adjustment will only

> make it worse. Why do these DR's decide not to tell

> you what your tests find - is it that they choose

> which symptoms they fill are valid and more likely

> causing the problems and so they don't tell you of the

> others? Thanks for info. Iris