[Shelley]

I'm tired of doctors and the health care system!

Today I had an appointment with my rehabilitation doctor (for past injuries she looked at etc ). Anyways I told her about my recent surgery and continue to bleed in the incision area, the problem is ongoing. She didn't have much to say but that is fine.

I'm still bleeding but the surgeon doesn't seem to have answers.

But I did bring up my little finger and my wrist to the rehab doc. My wrist is back to the same as it was before my neuroma surgery. The surgery was in September 2007 for the neuroma and I was told after the operation by the surgeon, that my wrist may need to be done again but when I inquired as to why or when at my next follow up, I was just told 'no.'

The rehab doc examined and pushed on the wrust incision scar and said it feels like you have a significant amount of scar tissue underneath your skin. I explained my symptoms which now include thumb twitching etc. Not much was said.

So then I bring up my little finger which doesn't bend and I explained this has been ongoing long before my elbow problems for two years or more now and its not getting better. I've tried physio, helping myself but the pain and limitation is getting to be too much.

The rehab doc said to me "Your little finger is not an important finger." I thought wtf?

Next I said that the current surgeon I go to,I really don't feel comfortable with her. I think she tries but I would like to see another surgeon about my fingers and could you refer me to someone.

She said "No." I asked "Why?" I was told once again "Your little finger is not an important finger."

WTF?!

I proceeded to say that I've been putting up with this stupid hand, arm problems for a few years now and I'm trying to get help, to get better, so I can move forward even more.

Nope. She didn't budge. I had trouble getting a referral from her last summer. But at that time when I said I would go to another Canadian city to seek help she changed her mind.

I phoned the other main hospital and was told there is a surgeon who sees patients with and without referrals. I explained a little bit about the medical problem and was told to get a referral because they have a few hand surgeons, certain ones deal with specific problems and it would be referred to the appropriate surgeon.

I see the current surgeon I go to in early July. I will attempt again but if I don't succeed, screw her!

I've brought up my finger problems to the surgeon once and she looked at it for one second, then said nothing. I figured it wasn't the day to talk about it since she was focusing on the elbow. Maybe wanted to deal with one problem at a time which was fine.

Several months later I brought it up again and was told "You already talked about this!"

If I see another surgeon and they can't help me then fine. At the very least I would like to find out and if they can't do anything for me its something I will have to live with.

I know some of my finger problem is due to the elbow problem, ulnar nerve that runs from elbow into this finger. I also know this problem is from extensive past finger injuries, many which weren't treated, and the problems started after these injuries. But this doesn't seem to click in when I try to explain this to them!

[Ashley]

omg, I can't believe she said its an unimportant finger! I really think you should switch.

[kdmakeuparts]

Well guess what it's important to YOU!!! Geez, you are asking for help, her job is to get you that help, not decide whether your issue is "important enough"

Sorry you had such a hard time....hope you get it all fixed up!

[S. Lisa Smith]

I'm so sorry. I don't have any suggestions b/c I don't know your system of health care. good luck. I've always considered my pinkys important, why doesn't your Doc?

[Shelley]

Thanks!

The rehab doc is not helping and the surgeon I seem to be getting nowhere with the problems.

Today the rehab doc said to me also.." Your little finger is not an important finger compared to your index finger. A surgeon won't be interested."

WTF?

I agree its my finger and it is a problem for me!

I just hope my newer family doctor will refer me to another surgeon otherwise I will be stuck. The only way you can see a surgeon is through a referral from another doctor.

[Dragonfly]

shelley, what do you mean you are still bleeding? Do you have a drain or is it that the incision won't close?

Can the doctor that you just have surgery with, refer you to another rehab doctor?

[Shelley]

Lisa,

We have free health care in Canada (some Provinces pay a small monthly or yearly fee) but to see a specialist or surgeon you need a referral from a family doctor. And the wait times are anywhere from 6 months to a year. If it was an emergency you would be seen fast but otherwise you wait. I was lucky with the current surgeon I go to. She had just moved to the city, new graduate, so I got in right away before her clientele built up.

I don't know why she doesn't consider it important. To me you need all your fingers to function, pick up things etc. My little finger does not bend down and if I push it down it pops back up. If I try to pick up objects it doesn't want to grip, gets in the way etc.

Originally Posted by Carolyn

shelley, what do you mean you are still bleeding? Do you have a drain or is it that the incision won't close?

Can the doctor that you just have surgery with, refer you to another rehab doctor?

My incision line has four to five small openings, small gaps (not deep) that continue to ooze blood. I keep it covered with gauze pads and check it every few days for infection, keep it clean. The surgeon told me that maybe I had a reaction to the dissolvable stitches and then told me she is not concerned. I had the same type of stitches with my first surgery (another surgeon) and never had this problem. I saw her at the beginning of June and go back the first week of July. No answers otherwise as to why this is going on.

This current surgery she didn't put a drainage tube in which makes me wonder if that caused a problem. Previous surgery she did and I never had problems.

As for the rehab doc and surgeon... the surgeon didn't refer me to the rehab doc. My old family doctor, who I no longer see, referred me to her. When I continued to have problems with my arm, the rehab doc eventually referred me to the surgeon, but I had to pull teeth to get a referral.

The rehab doc I only see every 5 months. Right now I want to see another surgeon. Eventually I plan on trying to get a referral to another rehab doc.

I also phoned the surgeons office and asked for copies of my operating reports for both surgeries. I told the receptionist I keep copies of my surgeries in a medical file and was told it shouldn't be a problem. I didn't mention about switching yet, want to wait and see. They will be for my file but also if I decide to see another surgeon I wanted copies to take with me.

[Darla_G]

Shelley,
i am sorry you are still going through such an ordeal!

[Dragonfly]

When I had my hysterectomy, the surgery was done through my abdomin.
The incision was not healing - had two gaps about the size of a dime each.

I went back to the doctor - he used what looked like a long match stick with a silver tip, and touched the silver to the incision.

It didn't burn or hurt at all. But it did close up the incision by the next day.

[Shelley]

Originally Posted by Carolyn

When I had my hysterectomy, the surgery was done through my abdomin.
The incision was not healing - had two gaps about the size of a dime each.

I went back to the doctor - he used what looked like a long match stick with a silver tip, and touched the silver to the incision.

It didn't burn or hurt at all. But it did close up the incision by the next day.

Thanks Carol for the information. Hopefully my surgeon will do something similar to help heal this. I go back in a few weeks to see her but I may phone Monday and ask to be seen earlier.

[Adrienne]

I'm so sorry this is happening to you!! How are you gonna tell a person what's not important about their body parts? Obviously they're all there for something. I'd try to find someone else immediately. I know its hard though.

[magneticheart]

So sorry for what you're going through!
Not an important finger?! Wtf?! I bet if she was in your shoes then she'd think it was a pretty important finger!
I can't really give you any suggestions but I do hope you get refered to someone who will listen to you.
I've had a similar problem with doctors ect about my big toe which is something that's been bugging me on and off for 2 years now. It started with swelling and pain. I reluctantly went to the Doctors (I hate Hospitals and stuff) I was then told (quite nastily) that there was nothing they could do and I would have to put up with the pain until it either went or got worse. It went off for a while and I was glad I wouldn't have to go back to the Doctors again. A few months later the pain was back making it almost impossible for me to put my foot down without being in agony. I wasn't listened to and it was awful. Thankfully it's finally been recognized as a 'problem' and it's being treated.
I hope everything works out okay for you!

[tyarishanese]

Shelley, what a nightmare!! That has got to be frustrating! I would tell them to let me pinch a nerve in their little finger so it started twitching and then dare them to say the little finger is not important. This proves that a medical degree may make someone smart but it won't give them sense.

[Shelley]

Thanks everyone for your support.

Magneticheart... I'm sorry your going through that. It sounds painful. The doctors that were being nasty, are they the ones that finally recognized there is a problem with your toe or did you end up seeing a different doctor who helped you?

I see my family doctor this week. I hope he will refer me to another surgeon otherwise I will be stuck if he doesn't.