false promise

[CynNew]

Illinois... I went to see a doctor about my back. I have herniated disc in my low back and neck. I also had bone spurs in my neck. When I saw the doctor I had my MRI. So the doctor looks at my MRI and states he would fix my neck. I told him I was there for my back not my neck. He said He would fix my need first then my back. I agreed with the understanding that my back would be fixed later. So I went for my eight week checkup and asked when would my back be fixed. He looked at me like I was speaking a different language. He pulled the MRI back up and then turned around and said I needed to lose weight. I was like you did say that at first. I reminded him he had stated he would fix my neck then my back and never said anything about losing weight. So then he said well I'II send you back to work and call you back in before the year is out.
I was very upset with him. My back was hurting worse now but he didn't seem to care. Is there anything that can be done?

 

[ShyCat]

Lose sufficient weight to be an acceptable candidate for back surgery, or find another surgeon who is willing to do surgery at your current weight. You cannot force a surgeon to operate on you.

 

[CynNew]

I think the doctor should have stated from the beginning that he had no plan to operate on my back so I could have decided if I would let him do my neck. He led me to believe he was going to do the surgery and then when asked about it he brought up the weight issue. If I had been given a choice I could have said no to my neck and found a doctor that would do both. As I stated earlier I was led to believe by his statements to me that he was going to do my back after my neck.

 

[ShyCat]

Since you don't get a discount for having multiple surgeries with the same doctor, does it really matter? In any case, if you've lost confidence in your surgeon for any reason, you are free to find another.

 

[not2cleverRed]

I think the doctor should have stated from the beginning that he had no plan to operate on my back so I could have decided if I would let him do my neck. He led me to believe he was going to do the surgery and then when asked about it he brought up the weight issue. If I had been given a choice I could have said no to my neck and found a doctor that would do both. As I stated earlier I was led to believe by his statements to me that he was going to do my back after my neck.

Do you have a weight issue?

 

[cbg]

There are sometimes medical reasons why one part of the body should be treated before a different part. Has it occurred to you that he might have had a medical reason for wanting to do the neck first? Did you ask?