- Joined
- Jan 29, 2009
- Messages
- 67
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What is your strategy for avoiding elective surgery on patients you know will be a post op nightmare?
I had a lady in her late 40's come in yesterday complaining of a pain in both feet. She had a moderate bunion on her right foot and stage 2/3 hallux limitus on the left. Both were certainly worthy of surgical correction. She has seen 3 other podiatrists in the area, all of whom she said she "didn't like." She was on both antidepressants and anti psychotics. She has neuropathy of which no source has been found yet. She said I came "highly recommended" from her primary doctor. She also had her 80 something year old mother with her who seemed to answer more questions than the patient herself. I see red flags everywhere.
How do you tactfully go about avoiding surgery? I certainly don't want to damage any relationship with the referral doctors in the area. My first step was a neurology referral for the neuropathy, which I figured would buy me at least a month or so. After that, I guess I'll just bombard her with conservative care until she decides she doesn't like me either...
I had a lady in her late 40's come in yesterday complaining of a pain in both feet. She had a moderate bunion on her right foot and stage 2/3 hallux limitus on the left. Both were certainly worthy of surgical correction. She has seen 3 other podiatrists in the area, all of whom she said she "didn't like." She was on both antidepressants and anti psychotics. She has neuropathy of which no source has been found yet. She said I came "highly recommended" from her primary doctor. She also had her 80 something year old mother with her who seemed to answer more questions than the patient herself. I see red flags everywhere.
How do you tactfully go about avoiding surgery? I certainly don't want to damage any relationship with the referral doctors in the area. My first step was a neurology referral for the neuropathy, which I figured would buy me at least a month or so. After that, I guess I'll just bombard her with conservative care until she decides she doesn't like me either...