If you receive a diagnosis of a chronic condition or severe illness, or if a physician tells you that you need to have surgery, it can be a good idea to seek a second opinion – this would either confirm that the information from your doctor was correct, giving you peace of mind, or may offer another perspective or other treatment options.
For instance, if you are diagnosed with osteoarthritis and your first doctor suggests orthopedic surgery, getting a second opinion is wise. The suggestions from your first doctor may not always resonate with you, so seeking a second opinion is crucial.
Therefore, you want to see another doctor for a second opinion. But who should you turn to?
Some doctors do not like performing a second-opinion visit. However, anytime someone is diagnosed with a major health issue, having another medical evaluation and opinion from an orthopedic specialist is always a good idea. As a patient, you can become better educated about the issues at hand and then decide which options are best suited for your individual needs.
Should I Get a Second Opinion?
There are several reasons for seeking a second opinion, including the following:
- You are unsure of or question your first diagnosis
- You are not on board with the doctor’s proposed treatment plan
- There is uncertainty about your diagnosis or you don’t have a definitive diagnosis
- You have undergone many different tests, but you still have not received a diagnosis
- The diagnosing doctor is not a specialist who treats your particular health condition
- You want to pursue a different course of treatment if there are other options
- Your symptoms do not improve despite receiving a course of treatment
What Should I Bring to My Appointment?
Your medical records are your property, although some medical offices may charge you a small fee for gathering your medical materials. Be sure to take with you any test or lab results, written opinions and evaluations, and photocopies or discs with any MRIs, CT scans, or X-rays taken.
Bring a summary of your current treatment plan, and request copies of your medical records from the hospital or anywhere else that has treated you, including operative reports from any surgery you have had for this particular issue. This way, the second-opinion doctor, your potential new treating physician, can see everything that the diagnosing physician was evaluating and treating.
The second-opinion physician will be able to evaluate the tests and treatments that you have already had, determine any additional testing which may be helpful, and present treatment options for your current condition.
Where Should I Go to Get an Orthopedic Surgeon Second Opinion?
For a medical and surgical second opinion you can trust, look for a physician and surgeon who has comprehensive medical and surgical experience and training in the specific field of medicine that you are dealing with. Dr. Brett Gilbert is a graduate of Duke University School of Medicine, trained locally in Durham with Duke Orthopedics for his residency training, and also completed an additional specialized joint replacement fellowship with Rush Orthopedics in Chicago. Dr. Gilbert specializes in the treatment of hip and knee arthritis, hip and knee replacements, partial knee replacements, Makoplasty robotic assisted joint replacements, and revision hip and knee repalcement surgery. He welcomes patients who are seeking an orthopedic second opinion to help them better understand their condition and treatment options.
If you are in the Raleigh or Durham area, including Apex and Cary, and are looking for further confirmation of a diagnosis or treatment, contact our caring team at the medical offices of Dr. Brett J. Gilbert today. Call us at (919) 788-8797 or you can request an appointment with Dr. Gilbert using our appointment request form, or you can self-schedule your appointment here.
