PrairieAir
09-10-2008, 10:12 AM
Our local school offers a day where everyone can come and have their sports physicals done at the school by a doctor from a nearby town for just $20 each and the school gets half of the money. I took my three youngest as physicals are required for both sports and P.E. participation. I sent the kids back by themselves because of the way they were running all the kids through.
When my 11yodd came back, she had notes on her paper form which I didn't understand, so I asked the nurse who is also the school trainer. She didn't even understand (that notorious doctor handwriting and abbreviations) and brought me back to ask the doctor directly. He said that because she had marked "Yes" to "Have you ever experienced back pain?" and because she had previously been in gymnastics (quit beginning of July) that he suspected spondylosis which is something to do with tiny cracks and weak points in the vertebrae. He said he would not clear her for gymnastics or wrestling. Okay, not a problem since she isn't participating in either of those sports. He also said he recommended she get special X-rays that could only be done at certain sports medicine places (like his) or by an orthopedic surgeon. He said that depending on what the X-rays indicated, surgery could be an option or that she could just take the time off from doing activities which could aggravate the condition and they would either heal on their own or not worsen. I explained that dd had been to a chiropractor twice in her life, both times during the past year. She did not have chronic or continual back pain, but she did have a few vertebrae slightly out of whack and that the pain ceased each time after the adjustment. I also explained to him that dd had grown 4-6" during the past year and that I suspected some of her minor aches and pains were growing pains. Also, not all of these aches were in the area he indicated. He still thought she should be seen and offered the services of a specialist at his clinic. I was inclined to think he was a bit cracked, but I considered what he said.
In the car on the way home, oldest dd, after hearing what he said about youngest dd, said, "Don't listen to him Mom; he's an idiot." I asked her why she said this and she told me that he had inquired about her surgery and injury which were listed on her form. She told him she was in a horseback riding accident two years ago and had her pelvis broken in 5 places. She'd had surgery and had a plate placed across the front of her pelvis and a screw from the back part into her sacrum to set the bone while it healed. Last summer she had the hardware removed. She was cleared by her orthopedic surgeon to play basketball three months after the accident. She has returned to riding and all her normal activities without any pain or discomfort. The sports doctor told her that was great that she was able to continue normal activities now and that her surgeon had cleared her but that she might have pain as she gets older and that she would not be able to have children. She told him that her surgeon had told her several times that there should be no problem with her having children. The sports doctor replied that if she did she would almost certainly have to have a C-section.
WHOA! Okay, I'm barely able to look past the wackiness of the first assessment on 11yodd. What the heck is this guy doing talking to my 16yodd about whether or not she will be able to have children--as part of a sports physical? How is he in any way qualified to give his opinion in a five minute look at dd's paperwork and tapping at her knees? I doubt he even had enough information to give the opinion on 11yodd's back, but at least that's more his department. I was pissed at hearing this. When dh got home from work with 14yods and heard the story, he was more than pissed. He was ready to kick the guy's @$$. He insisted on taking 14yods in for his physical at the school and I went along to make sure he didn't do what he wanted to. We didn't end up talking to the guy. I really didn't think it was best for dh to do it at that point. I wish I had talked to him though.
16yodd had been having some pain around her largest scar and she was worried that it might not be "normal" so yesterday we went to talk with the surgeon and have him look at it. When I called to make the appointment, I mentioned to his nurse what the sports doctor had said about difficulty with her having children later and asked the nurse to have the doctor talk to dd about this. (I didn't want to bring it up with the doctor while dd was in the room, but I did want him to reassure her.) I also explained what the sports doc had said about 11yodd and asked if they could do the X-rays there or if they thought it was necessary. The nurse was outraged. She thought the sports doc was out of line to even bring up the whole pregnancy and childbirth issue, much less give an opinion. She said that the orthopedic surgeon doesn't do backs any more, but she didn't see how the sports doc could have come up with that in such a quick exam with so little information and that if we were concerned we should ask our primary care provider to see if he recommended someone to take her to for screening.
At the appointment yesterday, the orthopedic surgeon took X-rays and looked at the scar tissue, everything looks good and there are some stretches dd can do to help with the tightness and pain around the scar tissue. He also restated what he'd said before about it not being a problem for her having children. He said the scar tissue may affect how well things were able to loosen up for delivery, but that a good, confident ob would probably agree to trying for a normal delivery and reserve C-section for only if absolutely necessary. He said that things could go either way and there's no way to tell for certain now, but that there is a good possibility she will be able to deliver normally and it's nothing to worry about if she does need a C-section.
On the way home from dd's appointment, she mentioned that several of the other girls at school had said that the sports doc said strange things to them that went against what their personal doctors had already told them. I am so bothered by this whole situation! We will not go back to that doctor for a physical or anything else in the future, even if he is the one giving the physicals at the school. I'd rather drive further and pay more.
Here's my question (finally). How do you think I should handle this? I'm inclined to go down to our small school district office and talk to someone there about this. I'd like to recommend that they not use this guy again. The only thing bothering me about it is that I did not tell the guy what I thought at the time. I haven't complained to him yet, so I'm not sure if it is right to complain to the school and suggest they not use him in the future. On the other hand, I think this guy's a screwball, he doesn't deserve the business, I doubt the quality of his medical opinion, and it seems it wasn't just my girls that he gave weird opinions to. Would you recommend to the district office that they use someone else in the future?
If you've made it this far, thank you for your patience. I'd really value any thoughts you have about this, particularly those who are in the medical field or married to someone who is. I really want to be fair, and I realize that as upset as I am about the situation, I may not be thinking clearly.
When my 11yodd came back, she had notes on her paper form which I didn't understand, so I asked the nurse who is also the school trainer. She didn't even understand (that notorious doctor handwriting and abbreviations) and brought me back to ask the doctor directly. He said that because she had marked "Yes" to "Have you ever experienced back pain?" and because she had previously been in gymnastics (quit beginning of July) that he suspected spondylosis which is something to do with tiny cracks and weak points in the vertebrae. He said he would not clear her for gymnastics or wrestling. Okay, not a problem since she isn't participating in either of those sports. He also said he recommended she get special X-rays that could only be done at certain sports medicine places (like his) or by an orthopedic surgeon. He said that depending on what the X-rays indicated, surgery could be an option or that she could just take the time off from doing activities which could aggravate the condition and they would either heal on their own or not worsen. I explained that dd had been to a chiropractor twice in her life, both times during the past year. She did not have chronic or continual back pain, but she did have a few vertebrae slightly out of whack and that the pain ceased each time after the adjustment. I also explained to him that dd had grown 4-6" during the past year and that I suspected some of her minor aches and pains were growing pains. Also, not all of these aches were in the area he indicated. He still thought she should be seen and offered the services of a specialist at his clinic. I was inclined to think he was a bit cracked, but I considered what he said.
In the car on the way home, oldest dd, after hearing what he said about youngest dd, said, "Don't listen to him Mom; he's an idiot." I asked her why she said this and she told me that he had inquired about her surgery and injury which were listed on her form. She told him she was in a horseback riding accident two years ago and had her pelvis broken in 5 places. She'd had surgery and had a plate placed across the front of her pelvis and a screw from the back part into her sacrum to set the bone while it healed. Last summer she had the hardware removed. She was cleared by her orthopedic surgeon to play basketball three months after the accident. She has returned to riding and all her normal activities without any pain or discomfort. The sports doctor told her that was great that she was able to continue normal activities now and that her surgeon had cleared her but that she might have pain as she gets older and that she would not be able to have children. She told him that her surgeon had told her several times that there should be no problem with her having children. The sports doctor replied that if she did she would almost certainly have to have a C-section.
WHOA! Okay, I'm barely able to look past the wackiness of the first assessment on 11yodd. What the heck is this guy doing talking to my 16yodd about whether or not she will be able to have children--as part of a sports physical? How is he in any way qualified to give his opinion in a five minute look at dd's paperwork and tapping at her knees? I doubt he even had enough information to give the opinion on 11yodd's back, but at least that's more his department. I was pissed at hearing this. When dh got home from work with 14yods and heard the story, he was more than pissed. He was ready to kick the guy's @$$. He insisted on taking 14yods in for his physical at the school and I went along to make sure he didn't do what he wanted to. We didn't end up talking to the guy. I really didn't think it was best for dh to do it at that point. I wish I had talked to him though.
16yodd had been having some pain around her largest scar and she was worried that it might not be "normal" so yesterday we went to talk with the surgeon and have him look at it. When I called to make the appointment, I mentioned to his nurse what the sports doctor had said about difficulty with her having children later and asked the nurse to have the doctor talk to dd about this. (I didn't want to bring it up with the doctor while dd was in the room, but I did want him to reassure her.) I also explained what the sports doc had said about 11yodd and asked if they could do the X-rays there or if they thought it was necessary. The nurse was outraged. She thought the sports doc was out of line to even bring up the whole pregnancy and childbirth issue, much less give an opinion. She said that the orthopedic surgeon doesn't do backs any more, but she didn't see how the sports doc could have come up with that in such a quick exam with so little information and that if we were concerned we should ask our primary care provider to see if he recommended someone to take her to for screening.
At the appointment yesterday, the orthopedic surgeon took X-rays and looked at the scar tissue, everything looks good and there are some stretches dd can do to help with the tightness and pain around the scar tissue. He also restated what he'd said before about it not being a problem for her having children. He said the scar tissue may affect how well things were able to loosen up for delivery, but that a good, confident ob would probably agree to trying for a normal delivery and reserve C-section for only if absolutely necessary. He said that things could go either way and there's no way to tell for certain now, but that there is a good possibility she will be able to deliver normally and it's nothing to worry about if she does need a C-section.
On the way home from dd's appointment, she mentioned that several of the other girls at school had said that the sports doc said strange things to them that went against what their personal doctors had already told them. I am so bothered by this whole situation! We will not go back to that doctor for a physical or anything else in the future, even if he is the one giving the physicals at the school. I'd rather drive further and pay more.
Here's my question (finally). How do you think I should handle this? I'm inclined to go down to our small school district office and talk to someone there about this. I'd like to recommend that they not use this guy again. The only thing bothering me about it is that I did not tell the guy what I thought at the time. I haven't complained to him yet, so I'm not sure if it is right to complain to the school and suggest they not use him in the future. On the other hand, I think this guy's a screwball, he doesn't deserve the business, I doubt the quality of his medical opinion, and it seems it wasn't just my girls that he gave weird opinions to. Would you recommend to the district office that they use someone else in the future?
If you've made it this far, thank you for your patience. I'd really value any thoughts you have about this, particularly those who are in the medical field or married to someone who is. I really want to be fair, and I realize that as upset as I am about the situation, I may not be thinking clearly.