Why I love my massage therapist way more than my doctor

[indigo_rose99]

What has my doctor done for me lately?

• Does the ER doctor count as my doctor?  He told me that my symptoms meant I was unlikely to have a concussion.
• The ER technician arranged an xray on my tailbone.
• The ER technician showed raaga123 and me the xray on a computer screen.  He described what a broken tailbone would look like and pointed out why mine looked fine.  Very informative.  I didn't ache any less, but I felt confident that at least my parts were in the right location.
• During my more recent appointment with my doctor, I never actually saw my doctor.  I described my symptoms to a nurse practitioner.  I requested different painkillers.
• The nurse practitioner gave me two prescriptions for different painkillers (very handy).
• The nurse practitioner sent me to have a spinal MRI.
• After the spinal MRI, an assistant to the nurse practitioner called me and said that everything was to be expected given my injury and medical history.  Before she could hang up, I asked questions like, How long should the pain last?  Will the dead spot ever go away?  If so, when?  Are there any ongoing issues that I should know about?  She didn't know.  She hung up, called me back later, and said, "in the next several weeks."  My further questions would get no more information from her, no matter how much I begged.

What has my massage therapist done for me lately?

• Duane gave me a very gentle massage four days after I tried to leave a thin layer of my skin over asphalt.  He explored my dead spot and was the one to tell me that it was about the size of his fist.  (For the curious, dead spot = a point on my body where I have no feeling.  Just like touching your lips after the dentist gave you one of those lovely shots.)
  
• When I told him that the dead spot itched, he was really encouraging, suggesting that while this is irritating, it is a helpful sign of healing.
  
• For my general scrapes, he strongly suggested that I put something soothing and moisturizing on it (I'm allergic to most topical antibiotics, which tends to disconcert most doctors).  And he then nagged me about it persistently as the days passed to keep applying it.  He suggested that this would promote gentle healing.  He was right -- after a bit more than a week, my scrapes are pretty much slightly dry pink spots.   T got blistered feet around the same time, and is still oozing blood.
• Among helpful tips, he told me to "Stretch!" Just because my tailbone hurts, this shouldn't stop me from stretching everything slowly.    When I couldn't think of ways to stretch particular muscles without serious pain, he offered suggestions.
  
• He encouraged me to walk, exercise, and do everything I can to keep moving.  He said that stopping moving is more harmful.
• Ten days after hitting asphalt, Duane gave me another massage. 
  
• He carefully checked my discomfort levels around my tailbone and reported back very positively, saying "Last week you would not have let me do this!  This is great!" 
  
• He checked my dead spot and discovered a truth I had no idea -- I have the nerves back on the top layer of skin!  YES!!!  I still have a dead spot, but it is noticeably reduced.   This comforts me enormously.  The dead spot was really wigging me out.
  
• I was complaining of persistent headaches, something that the painkillers have been barely touching.  After massaging my neck and shoulders, Duane told me that it is not my usual stress or tension related headache.  He pointed out a bruise forming on my temple (another?!) and said that this headache is going to require me to heal, not me to relax.  He suggested that I wait another week or two before becoming worried.  This is really handy information, since it means I don't waste my time thinking I've tensed up again and instead just take a painkiller.
  

It is obvious that my doctor has the ability to do tests and access to medicines that my massage therapist does not.  But my doctor is not communicative.  I felt very brushed off by my doctor, my injuries not truly investigated nor my concerns addressed.  My massage therapist offered concrete help (massage), suggestions I  could immediately apply, and real feedback based on his own observations.

Yes, I am trying to find a new doctor.  We've been trying to get rid of this one for about four years, but we are so rarely sick it has not been an urgent issue.

Comments

Dead spot

[sclatter.livejournal.com]

If it's nerve damage, it could literally take a couple of years to come back completely. Nerves take a LONG TIME to regenerate, but they do, eventually. My example is that I got stepped on by a horse back in the day, and there was a spot on the top of my foot that was numb for about two years. Not like, it was there, and two years later I woke up and it was gone, but it took two years of slow improvement before I could say it felt totally normal again. I believe this time frame is pretty typical.

I hate to be a pessimist, but itching is also associated with nerve damage (neuropathic itch). Given the numbness I suspect that might be what is going on with you.

But yeah, a new doctor definitely seems to be in order.

Re: Dead spot

[indigo-rose99.livejournal.com]

*erk* Years? *put head on desk* Years...

Damn. I liked my itching theory much better. But you are probably right.

...At least the damage is in a part of my body I don't NEED to feel...

Re: Dead spot

[mr-efficient.livejournal.com]

Sarah's right. After arthroscopic surgery on my shoulder, I had a numb patch that lasted probably five or six years. Feeling finally seems to have come back, but honestly I'd forgotten about it until your post reminded me.

Are we supposed to have doctors we like? I thought doctors were like cab drivers, and a certain amount of incivility in the relationship was just assumed.

Re: Dead spot

[indigo-rose99.livejournal.com]

I'm to the point that I avoid going to my current doctor if I can possibly avoid it. Seriously. If there is ANY other choice, I take it. I feel like she and her office have a policy of proscribing drugs when a lecture on getting more sleep or drinking more liquids would have been more appropriate. When it is an emergency, they "may be able to fit you in sometime late tomorrow... or the day after." I completely distrust them.

Of course, I avoid taxis for much the same reason. So, no, I don't think it is supposed to be a similar relationship.