Second opinions ??

[Noggin]

How do you feel about getting a second opinion on something surgical??

My resort physio and (apparently) my GP (the physio has talked to him, I haven't yet) want me to get a second opinion from a different surgeon about my knee

I'm kind of wary. I really don't want to piss off the surgeon because the other medical people I have seen since the start (everyone in rehab and my shoulder surgeon) think he's great.

The reason is partly because the bone isn't healing properly and mostly because of the material added to rebuild the plateau of the tibia having dropped a bit; possibly my weight but also likely because the cartilage was all but destroyed and rebuilt, so probably hasn't protected the new material that replaces the bone as much as it should. And also they are concerned about the total knee replacement because doing it before the bone consolidates is very complicated, more difficult to recover etc etc etc .

My other physio hasn't suggested anything like that and seems to think I should wait until I get the CT Scan and see the surgeon again on 8 September


The resort physio has suggested seeing a surgeon in a completely different hospital (just one of those surgeons, not a specific one)- not sure if that means they are good or just to avoid pissing off my surgeon!!


I do have a theory on the lack of bone consolidation (it's not as far ahead as they'd like, but there is some) - because I can't use crutches like a person with two normal arms, I only started walking on crutches all day 3 - 4 weeks after I was allowed to start weight bearing. As the "impact" of each step (even with less that 100% weight bearing) helps the bone consolidate - so IN THEORY I'm roughly 3 - 4 weeks behind? So maybe that is why the healing isn't right? (Doesn't explain the material of the plateau sinking ). I ditched the wheelchair two weeks before I left the rehab centre, so it was 4 weeks after the weight bearing could start that I actually started full time on crutches

Physio can't say yes or no to my 3 weeks behind theory. Or explain why the new material dropped (nor can the surgeon and I didn't mention my 3 week theory to him as I was stunned at the bad news!!)


Soooo - I can't see any reason for a second opinion. And I am reasonably sure that by the time I see the surgeon in Sept I will be able to walk enough to go back to work (I will make sure I will be!! LOADS of physio to strengthen my leg muscles etc) but I do accept that even just due to the plateau dropping, it may well be an uncomfortable winter, but I do NOT want a 4 - 6 month recovery operation before the winter. As long as that is the case, then I can put off the replacement until after the winter (really need to work the winter!!! Since I'm not allowed to ski, might as well work more!!)

And I really just do not want to piss of my nice (and well thought of) surgeon!!!!


HELP - I don't know what to do and who to ask here, so asking you lot of loonies in case someone can help me decide!!!


PS - I did send some questions to the surgeon and he replied - nothing seems particularly worrying but he's happy for the physio and or the GP to contact him to talk it over. I'm going to see the GP on Monday before I see the resort physio later that day

[Docca]

It’s a non-issue. The medic won’t be offended and you’ll have another set of eyes on your care.

Get a second opinion and also hire someone to write shorter posts

[weeksy]

It’s a non-issue. The medic won’t be offended and you’ll have another set of eyes on your care.

Get a second opinion and also hire someone to write shorter posts

So you wanted more like

"Should I get a 2nd opinion "
"Yes"

[Cousin Jack]

If he's a good surgeon he won't get upset at you seeking a 2nd opinion. He may warn you that if you get 5 opinions they may all be different, very few professionals of anyprofession will agree precisely about something as complex as fixing your knee.

I would be inclined to wait, tell him of the concerns, and see how it goes. You have been pushing the envelope of your recovery VERY hard, maybe all it needs is time.

[Noggin]

It’s a non-issue. The medic won’t be offended and you’ll have another set of eyes on your care.

Get a second opinion and also hire someone to write shorter posts

Thanx. I need the balance partly cos it's not my native country LOL. I don't think I'd worry in the uk but feel a bit less confident here!! I have zero idea how sensitive surgeons are My shoulder lady is awesome, the surgeon who fixed my knee last time was a dick

If he's a good surgeon he won't get upset at you seeking a 2nd opinion. He may warn you that if you get 5 opinions they may all be different, very few professionals of anyprofession will agree precisely about something as complex as fixing your knee.

I would be inclined to wait, tell him of the concerns, and see how it goes. You have been pushing the envelope of your recovery VERY hard, maybe all it needs is time.

I would prefer to wait until I see the CT Scans but am being pushed by the physio to sort if sooner (but TBF, getting an appointment in August might be an issue! Summer tourists/summer holidays). And part of my reason for the question is because I have the CT scan in 8 weeks and no one will decide anything before then before then, as you say, everyone is basically just going to have to make and informed guess - I feel I've already had four opinions (surgeon, 2 x physio and GP) and only the resort physio is getting het up !!


I don't think I've been pushing hard on this at all TBH. I followed all guidelines, actually didn't do as much in those weeks transitioning from wheels to crutches, and have been really careful since I've been home - hence being seriously p'd off/depressed that things are not going to plan.

"Normal" recovery for a complex tibia plateau fracture is around 4 months - I'm at 4 months now. So, maybe I shouldn't let Antoine stress me so much !!!


I do plan to talk to the GP on Monday and see if he really agrees with the physio!! Unless things go to shit, the date of the TKR is roughly up to me, so as long as I can work the winter, I plan to wait till the end of the season and then see how things go - hopefully

[Ditchfinder]

Trust a surgeon more than you trust a physio

(I admit I'm a couple of glasses of red in so didn't read all of that but I still think that point is worth consideration)

[Noggin]

Trust a surgeon more than you trust a physio

(I admit I'm a couple of glasses of red in so didn't read all of that but I still think that point is worth consideration)

Absolutely. I’m listening to him because he’s been my main physio for 8 years and seen me at my worst shoulder-wise and mentally!! BUT, the GP didn’t react as badly when he saw the X-rays the day after I saw the surgeon and my other physio is not as stressed about it

I know A is worried for me (he has experience of a his broken ankle taking too long to heal a few years ago) but I do wonder if he’s going a bit too full on - hence seeing the GP Monday.
(The GP was a trauma/urgence doctor in the region before he settled to being a GP in resort - obviously, summer and winter there’s a fair bit of trauma cases that end up at the med centre en route to hospital!! But his experience counts to me as A mostly sees people well after fractures are fixed!! GP has seen fresh and just fixed in hospital and fresh here!!)

[ZRX61]

ABSOFUCKINGLUTELY get a 2nd opinion.

It took me 12 months to get a 2nd ortho to take a look at me after my bike wreck 21 years ago

The first guy was "Of course you leg hurts, you had a bike wreck" for a YEAR


2nd guy orders new leg xrays...

Ortho: "So when did you break your femur?"
Me (pointing at my right leg): 1979
Ortho: "No, the other one"
Me: WTF???

[Mussels]

Recently we were told something like: "that bit of you is dead, you need major surgery to remove it and the surgery will probably be life changing".

A second opinion away from the NHS ordered a different test that resulted in: "That bit isn't dead, it's the prescribed meds making you ill, all you need to do is stop taking them".

[Noggin]

Recently we were told something like: "that bit of you is dead, you need major surgery to remove it and the surgery will probably be life changing".

A second opinion away from the NHS ordered a different test that resulted in: "That bit isn't dead, it's the prescribed meds making you ill, all you need to do is stop taking them".

Glad you got the second opinion!!! That's mad that the side effects weren't considered originally, but I have heard of other similar cases



Thing is that I am not sure there is anything "wrong" so far (especially having written my too long post with the delays of rehab due to the arm issues!!) - it's just taking longer than they (and I) expected - although I definitely didn't appreciate how serious/complex the fracture was

And the surgeon hasn't said I HAVE to have a total new knee just yet, he said we'll get the CT scan and then see what is necessary - he want's to put that surgery off as long as possible the same as I do because less complicated has a better outcome.

Out of the three other medical people that have seen the Xrays, only one is stressing about them.

So I think I'll find a surgeon at MediPôle but I'll wait until I have the CT scans to take as well, then a second opinion can see the fracture CT scans & xrays, the post fixing and during rehab ones and the September CT's - IF I think I need to see someone

No one can actually change anything by rushing and I am reducing meds (a smidge) with no issues so it is feeling a bit better. I can walk more most days just have to be reasonable about how much I do and what type of stuff

If I take the current xrays, another surgeon is just going to want a CT scan so I think waiting for that but accepting I might need to see a second surgeon is probably more sensible

See what the GP says on Monday