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Neurology (Expert Forum)
a controversial question about doctor-patient relations
This forum is for questions and support regarding neurology issues such as: Alzheimer's Disease, ALS, Autism, Brain Cancer, Cerebral Palsy, Chronic Pain, Epilepsy, Fibromyalgia, Headaches, MS, Neuralgia, Neuropathy, Parkinson's Disease, RSD, Sleep Disorders, Stroke, Traumatic Brain Injury
a controversial question about doctor-patient relations
by John 7, Apr 26, 2006 12:00AM
I have a rather unusual question, and I hope you will forgive me in advance for the seemingly ludicrous nature of this question.
In the hypathetical scenario if a person has a medium sized boney tumor outside the brain (similar to meningioma) but the tumor is not growing, and this person has pressure headaches every day, the doctor keeps insisting that the 3.5 centimeter space occupying lesion outside the frontal lobe is not the cause of constant pressure headache, then what is a person to believe? that it is simply a cosmic coincidence? The main part of this question is that would the doctor simply tell the patient that it's not causing symptoms even though they think it very well MIGHT be, so that the patient wouldn't want to undergo major surgery IF that person could go on living with the pain every day, unless that person had to DEMAND the surgery, so as the doctor wouldn't be to "blame" if the surgery was preformed and the symptoms didn't go away?
is this a possibility? I almost feel as though I may need a psychiatrist just because I asked you this, but, I have to ask, because it seems like too much of a coincidence to me...3.5 centimeter mass, frontal lobe, daily pressure headaches behind the forehead...
When I lay down on the opposite side of my head, the pressure "transfers" to the exact location of the lesion...when I stand or sit up, the pressure "spreads out" and is a non-specific pressure headache.
I just need to know if you
1) think I am in desperate need of a new doctor and
2) does it sound to you like that the tumor is causing my symptoms?
In the hypathetical scenario if a person has a medium sized boney tumor outside the brain (similar to meningioma) but the tumor is not growing, and this person has pressure headaches every day, the doctor keeps insisting that the 3.5 centimeter space occupying lesion outside the frontal lobe is not the cause of constant pressure headache, then what is a person to believe? that it is simply a cosmic coincidence? The main part of this question is that would the doctor simply tell the patient that it's not causing symptoms even though they think it very well MIGHT be, so that the patient wouldn't want to undergo major surgery IF that person could go on living with the pain every day, unless that person had to DEMAND the surgery, so as the doctor wouldn't be to "blame" if the surgery was preformed and the symptoms didn't go away?
is this a possibility? I almost feel as though I may need a psychiatrist just because I asked you this, but, I have to ask, because it seems like too much of a coincidence to me...3.5 centimeter mass, frontal lobe, daily pressure headaches behind the forehead...
When I lay down on the opposite side of my head, the pressure "transfers" to the exact location of the lesion...when I stand or sit up, the pressure "spreads out" and is a non-specific pressure headache.
I just need to know if you
1) think I am in desperate need of a new doctor and
2) does it sound to you like that the tumor is causing my symptoms?
Doctor's Answer
I would get another opionon. I always ask questions when I am at the doctors office and if I don't like what they say or if they don't believe me I tell them I don't care if you don't believe me because this is what I think and I am the one who is pain not them.
I would always go with what I fell. I would get another opionon and maybe another doctor.
Good luck!
one that specializes in hdaches/dx. Don't shoot the messenger,
but I'm inclined to agree w/ present neuro to an extent. Rt &
left brain ea. has 4 lobes. Frontal lobe controls movement/
emotion/planning/reasoning. It's considered the 'highest-
functioning' & Dr. observed your abilities were not impaired by
that lesion. He dropped the ball w/ help/referral/explain. This
is going to seem nuts, but I think the headache source is
triggered from your neck/skull base. It's a relay of circuits.
The occipital lobes start their & branch up to top of head.
Then they msg to 'Parietal lobes' that receive sensation/pain/
pressure. They are in front of occipitals/behind frontal/above
ears. Pressure/swelling at skull base will spasm nerve-relays
& 'fire' along the way tripping many sympathetic nerves that
will give you hdaches/pressure. Vascular system swells from all
these relays. The fact that the hdache moves, it really is
near the tumor but the tumor is not the cause. You need neuro-MD
for Migraines to find cause/treatment. Nothing wrong w/ your
'reasoning' so it's not the frontal lobe but near it.