Dr. reaction to your knowledge of MSK?

How have Doctor. reacted when you come to an appointment well informed about your condition? In 1998 I had a doctor (uro) act like I had no business knowing anything about the kidney.I asked about my GFR and he was shocked and asked where I heard about that.(I had researched the kidney at the library once I started having trouble with mine.) My current Uro. is much better. He listens to me and my ideas, but does not automatically agree with everything. I like that, it shows me he is not just humoring me, but is really considering what I am discussing.
I wonder if I doctors are more used to informed patients now that we have the internet and places like Medhelp.

[ChitChatNine]

I run into this with my thyroid issues, too.  But, luckily, my doctors for MSK and thyroid have not taken offense and my knowledge has empowered them to work with me as a team approach and, actually, sometimes they get too technical or assume I understand what they are talking about and I have to ask them to rephrase for me LOL!

However, the ER is a whole 'nother story ....................... they know nothing about MSK and take offense and ask if I'm in the medical industry and what I do for a living bcz I know so much.  They look at me with crossed eyes and I never have to ask for pain meds because I'm a lucky MSKer who is ok with with anti-inflammatories daily.

I sometimes think my primary doc did some research when he learned I have MSK and that has really  made it a lot easier to work with him on the routine things and then he coordinates with my Uro.  My  first Uro, well -- I fired him.  He pretty much told me I just had to live with it and tried to sell me some vitamins to control the symptoms and then I found out he was in a partnership with the co. that sells them.  hmmmmmmm

Great question!!!

C~

[msker]

Hi,

Sorry for the late reply,

When I went to my GP and told her that I had MSK she looked at me with disbelief...you know, as if 'I don't believe you'...(I was only told the day before by the Uro)..she openly admitted she knew nothing about it.so I told her what I knew, her responce..'oh, have you been on the internet looking it up?' I told her it was MY body and I have a right to know whats going on. I asked her IF it could be related to Hyperparathyroid (my serum calcium is high) and she just replied 'oh thats very rare'.

So my GP didn't like it, she just gave me a low oxalate/calcium diet to follow (which I think is wrong, after researching possible complications) and said see you in six months.

I'm not happy, I am waiting for my 2nd 24hr urine collection results (they lost the first lot..gggrrr) then i'll be in to see a different GP, although armed with loads of info this time.

Take care,
Sam x

[MSKshelly]

All doctor's are different but there are some out there who may not know a lot about MSK but want to learn and help their patients.  I recently had a doctor contact me who had seen some of the research on MSK.  He has had several new patients with MSK, and was looking for info to better help them.  I gave him several links including the support group here.

Again, as you hear me say often, it is only together that we can make a difference for
MSKer's in the road ahead.  I am excited though to see a doctor care enough to look
outside the medical box, to find solutions to help his patients!!  Don't give up and keep looking till you find someone who cares enough to learn more about it!  It is also important how we present the information we find on the internet, here etc. to do so in a way that respects the doctors knowledge as well.

I do hope our new doctor signs on here to see what many of us live with each day,
This might be a good time to share your story as well, you never know who is reading
the info and who it might help!!

Shelly