HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

2nd guessing surgery....

Support Forums
>
Chronic Pain
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 9/24/2014 3:21 AM (GMT 0)
I suppose to have my 3rd shoulder surgery to repair the labrum, rotator, and bicep tendon.
But i just afraid it will be another failed surgery, with another long and painful recovery. I can tolerate the pain to a degree, and even though it dislocates, no surgery stopped it before.
Also, i'm not too sure about my dr. The last time my shoulder dislocated and the ER called him he said over the phone to my mom ( i couldn't get to the phone out of bed), "if I have to come up there, I"m not doing surgery" I"m guessing he was really tired as it was 2am, the ER dr fixed it, and when we called his office he just said keep my pre-op appt.
I need to know that he knows there is a head attached to that shoulder, a person!

Thinking i may delay the surgery, and get another opinion rather than just say "no".
I don't know what to do.
Posted 9/24/2014 8:31 AM (GMT 0)
You answered your own question several times over! If you don't feel sure the outcome will be in your best interest, why consider it? If you don't exactly like the surgeon, why consider it?, if you feel a second opinion would give some peace of mind, why wouldn't you get it? Any Dr that threatens me is certainly not going to get close up and as personal as opening me up!! There is a lot there telling me you already know what you should do! Just read your post as though some one else wrote it and what advice would you give them??
Posted 9/24/2014 11:09 AM (GMT 0)
Agree with Vicki. Even if the surgery would have been impossible at that time, what a rude response, showing a lack of consideration for human emotion. Now, is it a surgeon? Because they are just a strange breed of people! There's a reason they chose to deal mostly with people who are under anesthesia ;-) just like there's a reason radiologists pick a specialty where they don't have to deal with patients.

I hope you feel better at any rate!
Posted 9/24/2014 12:30 PM (GMT 0)
I need another neck surgery and I'm not going back to my surgeon. I got mine done at U of Miami under a great team but the experience was horrible. I also got MRSA there too, post op pain management was horrible, I didn't know I had MRSA, was told it was the FLU so I to stay there for 5 days with crappy care.

I will be looking for another surgeon in the future and I think you should too.
Posted 9/24/2014 3:41 PM (GMT 0)
I love the way Vickie answered you. You have all these instincts for a reason, so let them guide you. It seems reasonable to delay this surgery with this surgeon so you still have a back up plan while you search for a better primary plan.

jpjr50-I'm glad to see you will be looking for another surgeon in the future.

Best wishes to you both to find just what you need.
Posted 9/24/2014 4:21 PM (GMT 0)
Is this the surgeon who did the first two ops? Was he referring to surgery at 2AM? Does he have a good reputation? Ask your PCP.

I got a second opinion the first time I had a bad shoulder and made the mistake of not switching docs right then. I had the second surgeon do what should have been done the first time - reattach the supraspinatus - which the first one missed.

If you have a tendon tear you don't want to wait too long. It can retract and not be able to be repaired.
Posted 9/24/2014 5:19 PM (GMT 0)
i just scheduled an appointment for a 2nd opinion, a great dr that wanted to wait till my seizures were under control (they are now), for before i have my post-op with this other dr. My fear is this-bc my complex case, and having 2 different surgeons already, no body wants to touch me. I'm afraid if i don't do it, nobody will ever fix it. I think he would do a "good" job, but just his personally stinks. I just wonder if it ever really can be "fixed"....
Posted 9/24/2014 7:37 PM (GMT 0)
AngMichelle,
My wife had the exact same surgery done twice, both failures. I swear, your surgeon sounds every bit as egotistical and self centered as hers. He acted like a jerk, and that's what he was. My advice to you is to skip the pain and bother of surgery, he will probably do you more harm than good. My wife and I are both thankful that we decided against the third surgery though the second one didn't help it did prove to us that her injury was irreparable. From one who's been there . . . Q
Posted 9/25/2014 1:30 AM (GMT 0)
Surgeons make money doing surgery.There's a lot of good ones that have your best interest in mind but there's also many that get mad if you want a 2nd opinion.

I would want to feel comfortable and confident that my surgeon had my best interests in mind.

Always remember Ang,you have the final say.

A lot of times we're made to feel that the Doctor is almighty and we have no say-so.That's not true.

Make the best decisions for you.

Rick
Posted 9/25/2014 5:21 AM (GMT 0)
To follow up on Rick's post - I would never, ever have a surgery performed by someone who would be mad if I sought a second opinion, let alone allow that anger to influence the quality of care I received.

A good doctor should WANT you to get a second opinion, because a good doctor is one who knows that s/he is not always right and is eager to hear and learn from the opinions of others. So, if this doctor is one who would be offended by a 2nd opinion, then forget about him.

Surgeons do NOT need to have GOOD personalities, none of them ever have a touchy-feely warm attitude, which is kind of why they can be good at their jobs, but I would draw the line if someone was that intimidated by me wanting a consult with someone else.
Posted 9/25/2014 9:57 PM (GMT 0)
I definitely have to agree with everything that others have posted. If you do not feel comfortable with this surgeon then by all means seek help elsewhere. It is your body and you have to follow your gut. I am so very thankful that I had a wonderful neurosurgeon that did my back surgery. He was kind and thoughtful and took as much time as I needed to help me understand what was going on and what would be done. He even checked on me right after I woke up and then several times while I was in hospital. I hate that so many people don't have good doctors and get crappy care. Anyway, good luck with what you decide to do.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply