- Anatomy of The Spine
- Back Pain in Children
- Caring for your Spine
- Emerging Spinecare Trends
- Evaluation of Spinal Disorders
- Exercise and The Spine
- Intervention - Spinal Disorders
- Intervertebral Disc
- Non Surgical Options
- Nutrition and Spinecare
- Options for Spine Treatments
- Pregnancy and Back Pain
- Prevalence of Spine Disorders
- Sleep and the Spine
- Spinecare Introduction
- Spinehealth and Disease
- Surgical Interventions
- Treatment with Medications
- Understanding Back Pain
Spinecare Topics
Spinecare Introduction
Getting a Second Opinion
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Getting a Second Opinion
Is there a diagnosis? If your doctor cannot determine the cause or cannot provide a reasonable explanation for your symptoms you have a right to go elsewhere.
Is the diagnosis uncertain? If your doctor does not seem confident about your diagnosis and is not taking additional steps to pursue the cause of your condition consider another opinion.
Ask your doctor if you should get another opinion? Ask your doctor if he or she believes you should seek a second opinion. If your doctor is challenged by your condition or by a poor response to care he or she will probably be quick to recommend another opinion. This is a sure sign that you should follow through.
Is the diagnosis life-threatening? If you are given a life threatening diagnosis it is reasonable to obtain a second or third opinion to determine whether the life changing diagnosis is accurate and to review all reasonable therapeutic options that might prolong life or simply improve quality of life. Obtain a confirming diagnosis might help you better cope with your illness and come to terms with the diagnosis.
Is the treatment controversial, experimental, or risky? You might not question the diagnosis, but you might feel uncomfortable with the recommended treatment plan. The plan may not sound reasonable or you may simply want to find out if there are other treatment approaches available that might be associated with less risk or better outcome. For example, if you are not comfortable with a recommendation for spine surgery, perhaps another doctor will recommend a different approach, such as chiropractic care, a series of injections or an anti-inflammatory approach.
Is the diagnosis uncertain? If your doctor does not seem confident about your diagnosis and is not taking additional steps to pursue the cause of your condition consider another opinion.
Ask your doctor if you should get another opinion? Ask your doctor if he or she believes you should seek a second opinion. If your doctor is challenged by your condition or by a poor response to care he or she will probably be quick to recommend another opinion. This is a sure sign that you should follow through.
Is the diagnosis life-threatening? If you are given a life threatening diagnosis it is reasonable to obtain a second or third opinion to determine whether the life changing diagnosis is accurate and to review all reasonable therapeutic options that might prolong life or simply improve quality of life. Obtain a confirming diagnosis might help you better cope with your illness and come to terms with the diagnosis.
Is the treatment controversial, experimental, or risky? You might not question the diagnosis, but you might feel uncomfortable with the recommended treatment plan. The plan may not sound reasonable or you may simply want to find out if there are other treatment approaches available that might be associated with less risk or better outcome. For example, if you are not comfortable with a recommendation for spine surgery, perhaps another doctor will recommend a different approach, such as chiropractic care, a series of injections or an anti-inflammatory approach.
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