This means it's more crucial than ever to be well-prepared for your next doctor's visit, as it will facilitate a more meaningful exchange between you and your doctor. Since it is the doctor's responsibility to address patient complaints, you probably feel safe, assuming they will listen to and act upon your issues. However, Sarah Hyland knows there are moments when your doctor isn't listening to you, a terrible prospect at worst. This week on Twitter, the Modern Family actor asked his followers for help dealing with unresponsive physicians. Illness and suffering that persist over time may be managed.
Hyland, now 27, has previously discussed her struggle with renal dysplasia and subsequent kidney transplant in 2012. This is a disorder in which the internal structures of a single or both kidneys do not develop correctly. As for her health, she tweeted last year that she had had a tough year that resulted in weight loss without going into detail. Others have had similar experiences trying to get a doctor to pay attention to them. Caitlin Donovan, a healthcare specialist and spokesperson for the National Patient Advocate Foundation (NPAF), tells SELF that this is "extremely frequent" in the industry. The damage it does is quite natural. Donovan explains that when a doctor doesn't consider a patient's opinion, it's like losing the input of an expert.
Pressures On Physicians
Bill McCarter, MD, creator of the Chronic Pain Management Program at Kaiser Permanente in San Diego, says, "Doctors don't want patients to suffer constantly. They want them to get well." "However, they are under pressure, their time is limited, and they must deal with pre-authorizations; this is not the kind of practice they envisioned for themselves. Because of pressure to meet deadlines, patients are often rushed through their care." S. Sam Lim, MD, pediatric rheumatologist at Emory University School of Medicine throughout Atlanta, agrees, "As a clinician in today's medical system, it's challenging to deal with persistent pain disorders." "Most clinics have patient volume targets they must meet within a specific time frame.
What Doctors Are Unable To "Fix" Frustrates Them
Ann Jacobs, 62, from Laramie, Wyoming, has spent the last 25 years caring for her chronically ill husband, who was wounded in an industrial accident. She has seen doctors struggle with the trial-and-error approach of his therapy. She explains that doctors are wired to focus on positive outcomes. Meanwhile, due to its complexity, pain management has developed into a distinct, interdisciplinary field. While this is encouraging, primary care providers are typically the gateway to pain specialists for their patients.
Emotions May Influence The Diagnosis
The psychological impacts of chronic pain may also complicate diagnosis. So did Maggie Buckley, 46, of Walnut Creek, California. Her painful joints result from Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, a rare hereditary condition of connective tissue. If you tell your doctor, "It's extremely sad and disturbing to me. I'm in so much pain," Buckley adds, "they will interpret it in terms of emotion but instead treat it as an emotional issue, sending you to psychiatric treatment or antidepressants." Because antidepressants may alleviate chronic pain and because of the correlation between chronic anxiety and discomfort, this is a valid therapeutic option in some instances; nevertheless, you should always advocate for yourself and make sure that any therapy is tailored to your individual needs.
Be Kind With Your Discomfort But Firm
Explain the severity of your pain and how it affects your daily life to your doctor. Don't let it scare you. Don't back down; keep your cool. Dr Lim advises patients to "truly be persistent about their issues in a manner that is productive" to convince their doctors that their concerns are legitimate. "Some doctors are more willing to hear out their patients than others. Getting a doctor to commit might take a few docs." Ann Jacobs suggests taking things slowly at first. "Hear the doctor out first," they said. Then, if you're still not happy, keep at it. The most critical factor, however, is establishing a partnership with your doctor in which you work together to find effective pain management strategies.
Conclusion
It might be challenging to find an effective therapy for chronic pain. A person suffering from chronic pain has every right to expect their doctor to listen compassionately and provide the necessary medication, but this is not always the case. The truth is that many medical professionals aren't equipped to handle the constantly evolving field of chronic pain therapy. Only 15% of primary care doctors in a 2001 poll said they appreciated dealing with patients who had chronic pain and required medication. This may make direct care visits difficult, mainly if your doctor is short on time.
