All About G

I think that this appointment, the one I had with the PT, has to be the shortest appointment I’ve ever had. I went in at around 11:50, and I was calling for a ride at around 10 after noon.

So what happened was really simple; Carl, my PT, came in, asked how I was doing and whatnot. I told him that I was fine, and as I was handing him the x-rays to look at, I told him about how I came across something over the weekend (see this to learn what I’m talking about) which led me to believe that the problem with my clavicle was a bowing fracture. He noticed something weird with my rib (and I agree it’s weird, but I didn’t see, and still don’t see, what that had to do with my clavicle, I know for sure that it was irrelevant and non-problematic), and then left for what felt like a million years, but was probably only ten minutes.

At the time, I wasn’t sure what to think, because when he was looking at the x-rays, he didn’t seem to be listening to me, but I didn’t let it deter me. While he was out doing whatever with the x-rays, I was formulating an argument to use along with my in-depth analysis. I’d make him listen and understand and at least acknowledge where I’m coming from.

So, he returned, gave me back the x-rays and whatnot. He told me he wasn’t a radiologist so he didn’t know what is was, but something in the clavicle, to him, seemed off. I told him, once again, about what I thought about my clavicle having at one point a bowing fracture (I explained what it was and typical symptoms, and basically, I was being as detailed as I could), and described how my symptoms matched the case study that I came across. Most likely to make sure I was being valid with my info, he asked me “What site did you find that on?” And I told him “Hawaii.edu”. .EDU websites are, obviously, usually education institutes, and I even told him how to find the page. We were talking about treatments, because he had said “But since it isn’t a break…” and I said “You can’t reduce something like that, because it isn’t a clear break. I think at one point I might have had a hairline fracture that healed, but that doesn’t mean the bone at this point can be reduced.” He agreed with me on that.

Once I was finished saying what I had to say, he said to me: “I think you should schedule an appointment to see Dr. Getzin again. I honestly don’t know what to do with this; your tendons are fine, your joints are fine, your muscles are fine. Did those exercises help any?” I told him ‘no’ an he continued with “I can’t help you with this, I’m sorry.”

I told him that it wasn’t a problem, and I thanked him for listening to me and my input, and I went off on my way.

So now, I’m scheduled to visit Dr. Getzin at 1:30 tomorrow, and I’ll tell him everything I’ve learned and what I think, and see what he thinks. He seems like the type of person who’ll listen, so hopefully my expectations will be met. I’m expecting him to refer me to an orthopedic because at this point, even the PT has established that this is quite strictly a bone problem. I can’t think of any kind of doctor that would be necessary to see other than an orthopedic. And for all I know, he won’t refer me at all. Of course, if it comes down to that, I’ll find a way to get to an orthopedic myself, but Getzin doesn’t seem like that kind of person.

So my verdict? I think the PT I was seeing wasn’t conceited, and I’m glad he listened to me and didn’t brush me off like I didn’t know what I was talking about. He seemed to think that I was perfectly valid with the opinion that I had formed. And he told me, straight up, that he couldn’t help me with it, instead of acting like he could. So props to him.

As for the next step… well, I’m sure I’ll find out tomorrow.