Finding a doctor

[TheProject]

Anyone have any good tips for finding a doctor?

The guy I've been going to is nice enough, but it always seems he wants to rush me out of his office, and can't answer any questions about issues resulting from working out because he doesn't.

My health insurance allows me to search by location, and that's it.

Suggestions?

 

[saint808]

find one that specializes in sports medicine.

 

[HappyScrappy]

also find one with very narrow fingers.

 

[TheProject]

find one that specializes in sports medicine.

That's what I'm trying to do. When I search by location, I get name, office, and that's it. Some of the docs have a website through the network, but none of them list anything useful. A one sentence statement of their philosophy doesn't cut it.

 

[NY Muscle]

What state are you located in?

 

[TheProject]

What state are you located in?

MO

 

[HappyScrappy]

start calling them off your location list.
when you get the receptionist, tell them that you are looking to find a sports medicine person.
if the doc is one, she will tell you, if not, she might know of one in the area since they usually refer such things out.

at least it is like that here - I don't know how it is in your area.

also, on the phone, yell a lot.

 

[Raina]

Have you asked for opinions from coworkers?? As they likely have the same insurance plan they might have advise-- or your HR department.

I had a hell of a time finding a new hand surgeon (after the one I was initially referred to had a baby and was on maternity). My insurance help line was worthless. They gave me 3 clinics to call and none actually had specialists. I contacted our HR dept and asked who they recommended for work comp claims etc. I finally got somewhere after doing that.

 

[Y_lifter]

I have found IMO that DO's have a better grasp of Muscle physiology etc than MD's...
Doctors of Osteopathy....

And "Internal Medicine" Specilists are better at above than Family practice or General Medicine types...

 

[TheProject]

start calling them off your location list.
when you get the receptionist, tell them that you are looking to find a sports medicine person.
if the doc is one, she will tell you, if not, she might know of one in the area since they usually refer such things out.

at least it is like that here - I don't know how it is in your area.

also, on the phone, yell a lot.

Yeah, I considered that, but those offices are always such a joy to talk to on the phone.

There used to be an 800 number you could call, and they'd help you could do a doctor search based on certain criteria.

 

[saint808]

well where i live there is a sports medicine clinic that is huge so that makes it easier, plus with the university hospital they are easy to find... i'd just do a yellow pages check and hen try and match with names on my list.

 

[NY Muscle]

MO

Hmmm

I guess I lucked out...I used to train this Dr at my gym then the topic of juice came up and he told me 1/2 of the local police Dept is on juice and all of them are his patients, so I made him my primary Dr.....then i got even luckier and stumbled across a dr who is close to where I live and writes for Flex and MMI so I emailed his office, and the HOT NURSE (when i met her man was she hot) was real nice and set me up with an appt. He is one of Flex Wheelers and Ronnie's Dr as well as many other well known bodybuilders.

It is hard to find a good dr...both of these Dr's I just mentioned i could spend an hour with them bullshitting and they dont try to push me out of the office.

 

[Y_lifter]

Originally posted by TheProject
There used to be an 800 number you could call, and they'd help you could do a doctor search based on certain criteria.

Your Insurance carrier probably won't or CAN'T recommend a certain Dr.

Most Doctors that specialize in Sports Medicine will advertise that fact when you call them.

 

[the nature boy]

My doctor is pretty cool, but my dentist is way fucked up. Every time I go to get examined he asks me to pull my pants down. Very strange.

 

[HappyScrappy]

even in college I can remember going into the trainers and no matter what injury you had, the response was always that you needed to stop running (I was a runner).
it got to the point where I just stopped going to them, because I could just tell myself to stop running and then ignore myself, and save them all the trouble.
less paperwork too.

 

[TheProject]

I asked some of my coworkers, but since none of them workout, they really don't look for the same criteria in a doc that I do. Plus, a lot of them are male, and haven't seen a doctor's office in a long time.

Also asked at my gym, and got referred to a chiropractor.

 

[Bikini Mod]

I'm in a similar boat. My friends are now telling me that I should go find another doc (especially since I will no longer be able to afford health insurance once the divorce is final) because I am to young to be living like this. Over the past 10 years I have been through 5 primary care physicians and about 8/9 GI guys and one surgeon (who I like and think is knowledgeable but by his own admission I don't fit his patient profile so even HE isn't quite sure what to do with me).

Unfortunately you never know how really good or bad a doc is until you are ill. I have a KICK-ASS ob/gyn and GREAT pediatricians, but for me....

I am in quite a quandry.

Even my freaking boyfriend who is a surgeon, hell the guy runs a fucking hospital, can't help me.... He has a specialty in orthopedics, trauma AND bodybuilds - STILL even HE is at a loss....

At my age and with my background, bodybuilding, good diet, rarely drink, no drugs, relatively lean, no heart trouble, non-smoking.....

I fucking give up.

Good luck project... just keep searching till you find someone that you are comfortable with. Eventually you will find him/her.