A few personal experiences, and the stories of many family and friends, have left me with the strong opinion that surgery is a very reluctant, last resort.
Not my worst experiences, but two similar injuries left me with very differing experiences, as comparative examples. In the first one, the doctor wanted to get me into (arthroscopic, fortunately) surgery right away, without even doing an MRI. In the second, a different doctor said that, even if surgery were eventually warranted/needed, the condition had left me too weak to be a good surgical candidate. So, see a PT and work and strength-building, and see how I tolerated it.
The first doctor racked up a big bill and produced no positive effect. The second doctor saw me for one visit, got me to a good PT / rehab program, and helped me make a full recovery.
Anecdote, sure. But, combined with some other singular, not positive experiences: I'll go under the knife only when I have no other choice.
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A few personal experiences, and the stories of many family and friends, have left me with the strong opinion that surgery is a very reluctant, last resort.
Not my worst experiences, but two similar injuries left me with very differing experiences, as comparative examples. In the first one, the doctor wanted to get me into (arthroscopic, fortunately) surgery right away, without even doing an MRI. In the second, a different doctor said that, even if surgery were eventually warranted/needed, the condition had left me too weak to be a good surgical candidate. So, see a PT and work and strength-building, and see how I tolerated it.
The first doctor racked up a big bill and produced no positive effect. The second doctor saw me for one visit, got me to a good PT / rehab program, and helped me make a full recovery.
Anecdote, sure. But, combined with some other singular, not positive experiences: I'll go under the knife only when I have no other choice.