Recently a patient, Ella, came to us because she was told that she needed spine surgery and was concerned about subjecting herself to such a difficult surgery. Ella had been in a car accident and suffered from severe pain in her spine after the accident. Her job required her to sit at a computer for many hours a day and this was becoming a problem because it was very painful.
Ella went to see a spine surgeon who recommended she get an MRI to determine the cause of the pain. When she returned to the spine surgeon with the results of the MRI, she was told that surgery was indicated to fix her spine problem and that the surgery could potentially leave her with some mobility problems. Ella knew that she was not about to undergo surgery with the risk of having additional problems. She decided to seek another opinion.
Ella did not know of any other spine surgeons and felt uncomfortable telling her surgeon she wanted a second opinion so she elected to go on the internet to research other physicians who could assist with a second opinion. She came across secondopinions.com and she read all about our services. Board certified physicians, easy upload of the MRI DVD to a HIPPA secure website and second opinion report received within hours of submission at very affordable prices.
Because Ella had a spine problem, a specialized neuroradiologist read her MRI and she also consulted with an in-network spine surgeon. Both physicians concurred that Ella did not need surgery; all she needed was a physical therapy plan and exercise. The SecondOpinions.com doctors referred Ella to a physical therapist who was able to help her and she has responded very well. No more pain, no more problems sitting at her desk, and the best part, No surgery!
It is important to have trust and faith in your doctor, but it is also important to be open minded and educate yourself about the potential healthcare options that may be available to you. In Ella’s case, she was fearful of having surgery, especially a surgery that could potentially leave her with disabilities. Ella realized the importance of educating herself and learning more about her condition so that she could make the best decision regarding her treatment.
Always get a second opinion. In certain situations, get a third opinion if necessary. An educated consumer is one who has the greatest ability to make the most objective decision. Ella sure did.
Second opinions save lives, decrease medical errors, and prevents unnecessary surgeries and procedures. Don’t think twice before you get your second opinion. It could be a matter of life or death.
