Thread: It pays to get a second opinion on Doctors

Heather did some major damage to her Knee before Christmas, it might have been a result from an earlier fall, we don't know what caused it. She saw our GP and he sent her fro a MRI.
The MRI came back and it said she had major damage there with tears.
She has a lot of pain walking, the knew has major swelling, and has been swollen for months now
We haven't got private Health insurance, so inquired with an orthopedic surgeon, estimate was over 10k for him and then Hospital etc etc.

So we got a referral to a public hospital outpatients orthopedic dept. Maroondah, months after we got an appointment and attended the out patients. We took the MRI report and films with us. A long wait to see a doctor, who wanted Xrays done at the hospital. so again hours wait. Had the xrays done and saw him finally. Young Asian guy, with a trainee. He didn't bother to look at the xrays he had order and went by the MRI. He came to the conclusion an operation was not the best plan. He said Heather would be up for a Knee replacement anyway when she reaches her 60's. He said she had arthritics under the knee cap.
His diagnosis was that for treatmentwas to take fish oil capsules , physio and hydro.

We go back to our GP, he is furious, he said fish oil will not repair and fix the problem, key hole surgery with a good clean out is needed.

So he refers us to another public Hospital ( which just happens to be under the same regional hospital group) BOXHILL

Yesterday we saw an orthopedic surgeon at this other hospital.
I questioned this doctor and asked are you a "Real Orthopedic Surgeon?, he seemed taken back and said "YES I am"
So he exams the MRI film and concurs what our GP said. Heather needs an operation to fix the knee, a clean scrape and biopsy. He fills out surgery forms. I then explained to him what my intial comment was about him being a "Real Ortho" and explained we went to the sister hospital and was told to take fish oil tablets etc. He got into the system and looked up the other hospitals clinical notes and was taken back. He said no that would not have been a solution to Heathers problem.
Also the arthritis, that the first doctor mentioned and the future knee replacement was poppycock! He knee is healthy except for the tearing

Heather is now on the waiting list, but at least now she can have it repaired. We have wasted 4 months so far.

She was perscribed Steriods a week ago by our GP, the next day it made her more mobile and stopped the seizing up of the joint, but steriods are dangerous and she can only use the for a week, including weaning of the dose. At least it gave her 1 week of less pain and mobility within the 4 month period she's put up with it.

We did sign up for private health insurance , but have to wait the exclusion period.

The point is when you go to a doctor and you don't think the decision is the right one, it pays to get a second opinion and not just cop it.
The junior Doctor we saw at the first hospital was way off the mark, unfortunately it's the luck of the draw who you get to see you, I wonder how many other patients he might have misdiagnosed. We did hear him confer with a senior doctor at the appointment, but he was verbally instructing the senior doctor, so the senior doctor can only go by the diagnosis as verbally explained.

Originally Posted by NavyDiver

Rule one- get a good GP, rule two go back to the GP before accepting advice in the public system. ( I am lucky- I have or work with four outstanding GPs sorry they are full.)

I see daily good and really horrible issues with both hospitals you mention and others.



Ones who are too busy for money like many Bulk Billing clinics wouldn't have a clue.

I hope your wife gets the care needed to remove the pain mate.

The unfortunate thing is when you present yourself at Accident and emergency, you are seen too by the junior doctors , ( yes everyone has to start some where) and they are overseen by a senior doctor.
If it wasn't for some switched on nurses offering advise then there could be some bad results. The doctors frown on nurses butting in, as it's a ranking thing, but I have had some young doctors actually appreciate comments from the nurses.
I was in the Angliss many years ago where a coffee cup broke in my hand and slit my finger open. I attended A&E and was told by the young doctor that I didn't need stitches and had a penicillin shot. One week later i was in extreme pain, I went to A&E and the triage nurse noticed I has septicemia. It seems I had a large fragment of coffee cup inside my wound . I was in hospital for 2 days and had an operation. The young doctor who swa me in A & E originally commented to me he couldn't see the what the fuss was about, He could have removed it in casualty. Yeah right mate, I'm nearly dying due to your lapse in diagnosis.


Re bulk billing clinics, one Sunday when Brendon was a baby he was screaming constantly, I took him to a bulk billing doctor who was open on Sunday, he said take him home and give him a warm bath.
Heather then took him to the Angliss hospital and their they found he had a severe bladder infection and hence the screaming from extreme pain. He was admitted to hospital and was given penicillin and a day later recovered.

I see a GP that we have seen for over 20 years, he bulk bills but gives you the time you need during the appointment, it can be 20 mins or 1/2 sometimes with me.
One of the other doctors sees about 4 patients in that time.
I often comment to my doctor that the other one is money hungry.