An important point to remember when speaking with medical personnel, especially when choosing a surgeon, is that we all listen through filters. These filters can affect what we hear – or think we hear. When you speak with your surgeon, it is imperative to communicate your expectations regarding TKR. This includes clarifying what you believe the doctor is saying in response to your inquiries. Part of being honest with yourself is trying very hard to hear what your surgeon is telling you, even if it’s not what you want or expect. It is difficult, for instance, to accept the reality that if you are 65 and have suffered from severe osteoarthritis for many years, this surgery may not give you the legs you had at 25.
On the other hand, if your gut is telling you, “This doctor doesn’t seem to have much time for me now, so I doubt he will have time for me later,” then listen to your gut. It is critical that you feel secure in your relationship with your surgeon and trust that they will be available to you if you have a problem post-surgery. Clinical research has shown that anxiety delays healing. You want to minimize anxiety as much as you can during your recovery, and this begins with selecting the right doctor. “ L.G.F.H.” or “Looks Good From Here” is not what you want to hear from your physician standing in the doorway.
After doing the research and asking my friends and PT for referrals, I found the same name at the top of each list. Fortunately, the name was associated with the hospital with which we already had a relationship. My decision had been made.
Of course, there are other ways to select a surgeon. One acquaintance interviewed 11 surgeons over eight months before she decided. Another chose the surgeon who ran the most popular practice in her community.
Even something seemingly unrelated to medical expertise, such as the arrangement of chairs in a doctor’s waiting room, can influence this decision. One friend, for whom walking was very painful, was surprised to find the chairs in a surgeon’s waiting room aligned in rows – almost like a school classroom. The only available seats were in the center of the rows, causing her to navigate over and around other patients. Was this symptomatic of the doctor’s disregard for patients’ physical limitations or lack of concern for their comfort? While she couldn’t know for sure, it became part of her evaluation of that medical practice.
Since I was in pain and my life in disarray, I was happy to proceed with what appeared to be either a most fortunate coincidence or just a case of good luck.
