Why do they want to do surgery?

What kind of surgery do they want to do and what state do you live in?

Did anyone take an x-ray?

yes and they learned I have a selenoid (SP?) bone in my thumb but otherwise it doesnt look broken

judi all he said was I am to see a surgeon on 9/30 cuz I need surgery

and Maryland

You need to make a list of all your questions and bring it with when you see the surgeon.

my lawyer said my body is failing so bad she should hire a hitman to put me out of my misery. I am nowhere near as old as most people I know who don’t have half the damage mine has sustained…...

I knowthere are people worse off than me but this is getting ridiculous. I miss using my thumb…..

Time for a 2nd opinion….

i mean its bad enogh that they wanna do surgery on the chondromalacia of my patella

gail sweetie you still there?

You need more information before submitting to surgery. Can you take a family member or older friend for another consult and for advocacy? This sounds as tho you are being railroaded. One of the obligations of the medical profession is to be clear and to make sure that the patient understands what is going on.

You should at least have a copy of the medical report so that you know what you are talking about. Solenoid is not a thumb bone but some sort of connector tissue, I think. I have been looking at the anatomy of the human thumb on Google…too confusing.

I hear you…..I am still trying to fiure out if the bright white marks on my wrist means my bones there had once been broken

nd I have no one to go with me

You don’t have to have an operation just because they say you need surgery. Ask the surgeon to explain to you what is going on with your thumb, and what they intend to do about it. ask them for any possible risks, and what outcome is expected. Ask them what would happen if you don’t have surgery. Make sure you understand everything, and if you don’t.. keep asking questions until you do. Don’t feel bad about telling the doctor you need some time to think things over, and even get a second opinion. I had the surgery for chondromalacia, and it’s not fun, but can be very helpful under the right circumstances. Good luck to you. I hope you feel better soon.

I’m with allengreen. Get another opinion and if that doc also recommends surgery have him/her explain to you, in plain English, why you will need the surgery and everything that it entails. Good luck.

you might want to talk to the doctor some more, or get a second opinion. If in fact you do need surgery, the longer you wait, the more the tissue has time to scar and that makes for longer recovery. When you go to the doctor, unless you are in the medical field, take notes as to what you are told. Sometimes a doctor can throw too much info at you at once, and it is hard for most people to remember it all. good luck.

“Surgery” automatically warrants a second opinion in MY book.

Mits, when you go for a second opinion or a consult for the surgery, don’t be intimidated. If they want to rush through things (as some are want to do), be very firm and tell them to slow down and answer your questions. Many docs try to get through as many patients as they can in a day. The result is not taking enough time with each patient. Tell the doc that you scheduled this time with him/her and expect to get the most out of that time for your own best interest. Stand in front of the door if you have to, but make sure the doctor stays there and answers each of your questions in a way that you understand. Go in prepared with questions. Take a pen and notebook. Be VERY clear about what your condition is and what the expected prognosis would be with or without surgery. In all likelihood, you’re being passed on to a surgeon because the GP (assuming it’s a GP) you’ve seen doesn’t have enough experience in the specialized area to make a diagnosis or figure out the best treatment. If the surgeon continues with the notion that surgery is the only option, explain that you want a second opinion before pursuing and get one.