Damn doctors. First thing they reach for is the scalpel.

[Redstone]

Two years ago, I had a lump on my leg, so I went to see an orthopedic surgeon. After having an MRI done, he said "You've torn the little bit of cartilage you have left in that knee, and it's produced a cyst. We'll just go in there and remove it; we can replace it with an artificial cartilage pad. Or, actually, you'd probably benefit more from a knee replacement." (I already have a Nylon kneecap on that side.)

I told him thanks a bunch, and that I'd get back to him. Two years ago, as I said, and I still haven't taken him up on his offer.

Today, I went to see a hand doctor because there's a bone spur at the base of a finger that I broke many years ago. On reviewing the MRI films, the doctor told me that what he'd like to do is to replace that finger joint with an artifical one. As before, I told him thanks a bunch, and that I'd get back to him.

I think I'll do what I've done for the last two years with the knee: Exercise and ignore the pain. It's worked well so far on the knee, and whenever the cyst shows up I give it a good whack with the heel of my hand and it goes away for a month or so.

The point of all this? Just to show you why you should never let them cut you until you can't take care of the problem any other way. You'd be surprised how long you can avoid the knife with a bit of work.

Redstone

[hippywife]

1. I agree you should be selective when

it comes to surgery. I work with the elderly and the other side of that coin is people who really did need hip or knee replacement and didn't do it are more debilitated in their later years than they really need to be.

[Kingshakabobo]

2. So true. I have met several people who have had back surgery and ended up

worse off after the surgery. I had one doc who wanted me to go under the knife for chronic pain. Luckily, I got a second opinion from another doc who recommended exercise, therapy and "back training/posture training." I haven't had any serious flare-ups in years.

[sendero]

3. Your story..

... is a perfect demonstration of why aggregate health care costs in this country are skyrocketing.

The solutions, not only surgical but high-tech medical hardware (very expensive) surgical, really aren't necessarily called for in your situation. Surgery should be the last resort, not the first.

[flamingyouth]

4. I agree with you.

I actually had a refreshing experience last week seeing a surgeon. I have three bulging disks in my neck and again, this doctor is a surgeon, but she went way out of her way to detail all the treatments I'll try before we talk more seriously about surgery. She also answered all my questions about exercise (I have a daily routine that I want to maintain) and she helped me pick and choose which things might be good to stop temporarily until I feel better.

I was really dreading that appt. precisely for the reasons you just stated: sometimes they are so anxious to cut, it seems. Keep up the good work. :thumbsup: