When you experience a personal injury, your number one goal is to feel better as soon as possible. The course of action you take to reach that goal is just as important as the goal itself. You trust your doctor to provide you with quality care that can help you manage the pain and eventually be free from pain altogether. Sometimes, though, you may find that your doctor isn’t providing the kind of pain relief and healing you’d like. In that case, considering another doctor might be your best option.
All (Not) Better
You know your body better than anyone else. It’s important to listen to the signals your body is giving you to ensure you allow it to heal properly after an injury. Often times, though, injuries you receive may have no external symptoms, causing a false end-of-care assumption on the part of your current doctor. When they have reached what they believe to be the end of all that can be done, their options are limited, resulting in a diagnosis of “all better,” when all might not actually be better. You know if you’re still in pain or not. If you are, but your doctor says you shouldn’t be, it may be time to get a second opinion.
Someone Who Knows
Primary care physicians can provide a lot of great care. However, their abilities and resources only go so far. If your doctor has no further options but you’re still experiencing pain, consulting a specialist could be your best move. For example, if you are experiencing back pain after a certain injury, it may be that a chiropractor or other type of therapist is necessary to help you get rid of the pain. Since primary care physicians often aren’t skilled in chiropractic work, you will likely need to seek out a second opinion to get the treatment you need.
Paying for It All
In some cases, you may be fearful of seeking a second opinion since it could end up costing you money out-of-pocket. However, if your personal injury was received as a result of negligence on the part of someone else, a personal injury lawyer like Wegner C Dennis & Assoc can help you get the financial compensation you deserve anyway, which can then be used to pay for other doctors and treatments. Though it’s important to utilize insurance as much as possible, if it simply will not work for you, just know that there may be another option.
The Ins and Outs
As you consider your treatment options during a personal injury case, do make sure to follow the proper procedures if you want to get a second opinion. Often, insurance companies have regulations in place to prevent fraud and abuse that prohibit you from seeking a second opinion before a certain time. Make sure to understand any hoops you may have to jump through with your particular insurance so you don’t end up missing out on assistance that you may desperately need later. Sure, it may take a little longer, but if it means fewer headaches over time, it will be worth it in the end.
Take Care
Ultimately, when it comes to your health, you need to do what’s best for you. If you feel you have a pressing health issue due to a personal injury, don’t hesitate to seek out the treatments which you might need. While doctors have a lot of knowledge and great advice to offer, what they say is still just an “opinion,” and shouldn’t be instead taken as a commandment which you must follow at all costs.
This article was written by Dixie Somers, a freelance writer who loves to write for business, finance, and family issues. She lives in Arizona with her husband and three beautiful daughters. You can find Dixie on Facebook.
