When do you go to the doctor?

[dreamshark]

When I was posting about my back "going out" last week, a couple of people responded with "Go to a doctor immediately!" My response was, "Why on earth would I do that?" In general, I've found doctors to be useful only if I have a problem that is very specific, unambiguously diagnosable, and can be fixed by either medicine or surgery. Specifically, doctors are notoriously helpless when it comes to dealing with back pain. So, no, I didn't see a doctor.

But it got me wondering how other people make the decision to seek medical attention. I go to the doctor when I have an earache and/or pinkeye (which happens about once every 3 years) or when I have a cough that is so bad I can't sleep (twice in the past 10 years, I think). That's about it, really. I'd go to the doctor if I broke a bone or spiked a fever of 104, but so far neither of these has happened (knock wood). I used to visit doctors somewhat more often, but gradually stopped when I realized how rarely they were able to help me.

Am I completely weird about this? What guidelines do other people use for deciding when to visit a doctor?

Incidentally, my back is back to normal now. Thanks to all who gave advice or shared similar experiences. And if anybody who is reading this HAS ever found it helpful to go to a doctor for an aching back, I would be interested to hear about it.

Comments

[wombat-socho.livejournal.com]

I go on a fairly regular basis since I have Type II diabetes and have to have the drug dosages changed from time to time. Before that, I only went if I was in extreme pain and neiother Lois nor I could figure out what to do about it.

[barondave.livejournal.com]

In a highly informal survey during the 80s/90s when I gave thousands of massages at conventions and such, I concluded that most minor-to-middlin' back problems were caused by bad posture. Doctors can't justify an insurance claim by advising, "stand up straight!"

On the other hand, at least they can tell you to avoid making it worse. Some people don't change their behavior unless An Authority Figure tells them to.

Aside from that, people urge you go to a doctor because a) it might (might!) be something more serious and you might as well be sure and b) if it is something treatable, get started right away and c) it covers your ass if you eventually make an insurance claim by officially noting the time and seriousness of the complaint.

I haven't been to a doctor (excepting a dentist) in years. We really don't have health care in this country: we have sick care. If I was sick, I'd go. Sure, I should get a check up more often, but I'm reasonably sure what to look out for.

Glad to hear that your back is, er, back. Now remember to follow all the good advice we gave you. Stand up straight!

[cakmpls.livejournal.com]

I agree about posture. I have always had good posture, probably following the example of my father (who was 6'4" and stood straight except for his bowed legs). Even as I approach 60 and am overweight, the only back trouble I have is sciatica, a different thing entirely.

Shhh! Most doctors aren't any smarter than you!

[mle292.livejournal.com]

I tend to do the same thing as you. I think that unless it's obviously and immediately diagnosable, most doctors are just experimenting on their patients.

I have a clinic that I picked through my health insurance, I don't mind them much - especially since the doctor that I ended up with has come to the understanding that I'm at least half smart and that I might be right when I look up and find possible solutions. Still, I only go if I think I *NEED* to and if I will not be the subject of a wild-ass guess.

I've worked as a corporate lunch delivery driver, about 30% - 50% of all deliveries were paid for by pharmaceutical companies sponsoring a sales pitch. Doctors are people too, they are consequently susceptible to agressive advertising - many of them even more so than the average person because they believe that they AREN'T easily swayed by sales pitches because of their experience, or years of education.

[cakmpls.livejournal.com]

Suspected ear, eye, or urinary tract infection sends me to the doctor promptly. Not much else. But I do get a yearly exam.

When and why?

[markiv1111.livejournal.com]

I may have just gone to the default "talk to your doctor" because of my job. (Most of my LJ friends know that I'm a medical transcriptionist -- a glorified flunky who types doctor's notes -- but some of yours and mine might not.) I have developed a solid respect for the people whose notes I type; generally they can recommend *something*, with the thought in mind that if this recommendation doesn't work, you can come back and they can try something else. The times that I have been a patient, and not remotely helped by the doctor (four times in the last 38 years, starting the clock ticking when I started living on my own) the problems have had to do with doctors flatly not being willing to listen to what I had to say, and jumping to conclusions about my situation. I'm not saying this won't happen with you -- four times (from four different doctors) implies quite clearly that this problem is significant. But the chances are still good that the doctor will know more than a randomly selected friend, and be able to guess why it happened, how long it will last, and a few things that won't hurt and might help. The times I perceive this with my own health, I will see a doctor (less often than you might think); the times I perceive something else, I won't, unless necessary to get a "sick" excuse from work. But I need to admit that I am biased. I certainly don't have first-hand experience to confirm that doctors are completely ignorant about back pain, so your first-hand experience would obviously trump my lack thereof! (Right?)

Nate

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

I had a horrible, horrible experience with going into the doctor for back pain: the nurse practitioner took one look at me, decided what kind of person I was, and decided that the problem was that I was spending too much time at the computer. Except that we'd been in a car accident, and I was hardly spending any time at all at the computer. She showed me a couple of stretches, instructing me, "Now, don't do this to the point of pain," when she could see that it was hurting me to be put in the basic position, say nothing of stretching anything. So for back pain, I'm probably a little gunshy.

I go when the guys start to make noises at me about it, or else I call up porphyrin and describe the symptoms and say, "So is that bad or fine or what?"

[jbru.livejournal.com]

I go to the doctor whenever I've missed work. This is due to my work's stupid policy of requiring a doctor's note to say that I'm fit to return to work. Otherwise, I'm with you. Most middling ailments I'd much rather just slog my way through. I've had 38 years of living in this body and I know it pretty well.

That said, the other time I go to the doctor is when something pains me and I don't know why. When I had the weird abdominal pain that they thought was due to gall stones, I eventually was convinced to go in, for example.

[skylarker.livejournal.com]

I went when I thought I'd cracked a rib, but it turns out they couldn't have done anything about it if it were cracked. They told me that binding my ribs would interfere with my breathing.

I didn't bother to go in for a strained wrist, ankle or injured little toe, since I didn't expect they'd be able to do any more than tell me not to use the injured part or put weight on the injury - and I could figure that much for myself.

My mother and sister both went to doctors for back injuries and the treatment was bed rest followed by some exercises when things had healed enough to do them without pain. I mostly only go to a doctor if I want medication for pain or infection.

Going to the doctor

[mmagidow.livejournal.com]

I go to my chiropractor/accupuncturist for everything. And in every case, she is a wizard. From back pain to sinuses, she can fix, mend or improve any condition. If you want to try it, her name is Dr. Barb Fagan at Dinkytown Family Chiropractic. She works on a sliding scale, so if you don't feel you can afford it, ask. She will not turn anyone away for lack of $$. I have been going to Chiros and accupunks since the 70's and she is the best I have ever found.

[davidschroth.livejournal.com]

Once a year, for a general check-in/check-up.

Otherwise, I tend to resist going to the doctor unless I'm really convinced there's a need. This might not always be to my benefit - last year at this time I did eventually make an appointment to see a doctor. I didn't actually make it to the appointment, as the emergency appendectomy left me unable to travel to the clinic...