The doctor-patient relationship needs to be a two-way street in order to be effective. Gone are the days when a doctor would look you over and tell you exactly what to do to treat your illness. Patients need to be asking questions to their doctor, but which questions are the best ones to ask? Here’s a look at five questions doctors like hearing from their patients.
Ask Your Doctor
The next time you’re in the doctor’s office, bounce a few of these questions off your doctor.
1. What are my treatment options? – Some people like to be told what to do by a doctor, but odds are there are a few different ways to treat your condition. Depending on your needs at the time of the injury, your priorities may be different than the doctor’s at that moment, so ask your doctor about all your options so you two can find a solution that meets both of your goals.
2. What can I do to best help myself heal? – There’s no magic pill that will automatically take care of your condition. Instead, you’re going to have to put in some work on your own if you want to experience the best results. Ask your doctor what actions you can take to help yourself heal, whether that involves moderate exercise, stretching, physical therapy or taking a break from work or manual labor. Doctors enjoy working with patients who want to help themselves get better.
3. What can I expect from my treatment options? – Some treatments carry more risks or have higher success rates, so ask questions about the expectations associated with each. Although forgoing surgery may allow you to recover quicker, maybe you will lose some range of motion if you don’t undergo an operation, so weigh the pros and cons of each treatment before making a treatment decision.
4. Should I seek a second opinion? – Good doctors will not see this question as a personal attack – they’ll see it as your desire to get to the bottom of your condition. Your general practitioner may be great when it comes to common maladies, but you would probably benefit form seeking out a specialist in the event you fractured your fifth metatarsal. Sometimes your general practitioner will have a good handle on the condition, other times they’ll flat out tell you to seek out a specialist. Asking this question can give you a better understanding as to who can provide you with the best care.
5. Are there any side effects? – Whether you’re contemplating surgery or simply getting a prescription for pain, all treatment options are going to have some potential side effects. Talk with your doctor about all the potential side effects so you know what to expect or if there are any pitfalls to watch out for.
