My 1st Foot Doctor Appointment....Unsure

tsavorite · ‎03-09-2010

Had my 1st appointment with a (highly rated) foot/podiatrist doctor on Thursday. I had already figured out I have Plantar Faciitis and he bascially confirmed this. What is bothering me or concerning me is treatment. They seemed very rushed and not interested in any questions being answered and darting in and out of room.

They took x-rays....made ZERO comment on them to me. Didn't take time to explain much of why they are doing what they are doing. Just you have PF and we need to get the inflammation down. Gonna freeze this area to numb and give you cortisone shot and was basically doing it before I could get a word out! Then the assistant did ultrasound for maybe 1min on my heel...and quickly took gel off. Then applied some glue stuff and measured out strips of kinesiology tape for doctor to come back and tape up. He did this very quickly and was saying come back next week should be 50% better....and I said WAIT! what about my shoes....what about working out....he said next time we will do molds for orthoics and was still grabbing door knob. I said what about stretching? I asked him if I could do the "heel drop" one (yrs back my PT had me doing this one) he looked surprised and said NO don't do that one ever...it's the worst! I said oh well what else shouldn't I be doing as I workout and do stretching...got tight calf muscles too. He didn't give me anything else to go on. Said if your exercising then it's ok. I said don't you even want to know what kind of shoes I wear...he said NO tennis shoes for a answer is enough.

The assistant said this tape wouldn't come off in a shower and to keep it on for 5 days. Wrong...it half came off after 1st shower! What a waste. It was all mushy after today's shower and falling off so I took it off. Are they crazy? this stuff isn't gonna last for 5days.

He did give me a prescription for Voltaren...generic to take 2 times per day. I think I may have spoke to him for under 2mins each time he was in room. I had questions about what I should be doing and not doing and so on.

For some reason I am not feeling to impressed .....I will go back next Thursday and hope for a better outcome.

I want to be fair as I have never seen a foot doctor before in my entire life....and perhaps what treatment and how they deal with patients is always like this and I just don't know any better.

I did read the other thread on the PF here with the ideas but nobody really talked about what their visit was like....what all was prescribed....number of return visits too much so I am just really curious. Maybe I am expecting to much?

Thanks to anyone who replies.

PilatesLover · ‎08-20-2014

Oh my goodness. I would ask around for recommendations for another podiatrist.

BirkiLady · ‎02-22-2015

@tsavorite You have questions and deserve answers. Suggest calling the office and ask to speak with the RN. Talk with her about the hurried office visit and how unsatisfied you feel with their "bedside manner." It may have been an extremely busy day or they may need to be reminded that patients need explanations to complately understand PF and other foot issues. Patients don't deal with this information on a daily basis like they do; it's foreign territory to most, as well as painful! Glad you persisted in trying to ask your questions. If he/she is, indeed, such an excellent specialist, perhaps a friendly reminder will be welcomed.

Wish you the best in being the most successful healthcare advocate for yourself. If this specialist won't take the time to slow down, treat you with respect and answer your questions, you may need to find another poditrist (after several visits) who will respond to your questions! This is not an acceptable way to treat patients IMO. Best wishes on improved foot care.

Money screams; wealth whispers.

PinkyPetunia · ‎03-09-2010

@tsavorite Does your foot feel any better after the cortisone shot? Some doctors are like the one you saw, others explain things and give you more time.

If you go back to him, make a list of questions and put it in his hand. If you are not satisfied after that, find another foot doctor.

Mz iMac · ‎07-26-2014

**My personal opinion & I am sticking w/it.....

When a physician(s) office is like a cattle call (reception/waiting area & inside exam room), it's time to change doctors.

"Never argue with a fool. Onlookers may not be able to tell the difference."

AuntG · ‎03-09-2010

Yep, that seems to be a common routine for PF. I suppose the doctor has it down pat and has no desire to slow down and answer questions.

tsavorite · ‎03-09-2010

@PinkyPetunia @BirkiLady @AuntG @PilatesLover @Mz iMac

Thank you all for your thoughts and ideas! I am going to write down other questions I have and be more upfront about him answering them. I think I was just to stunned at how bad that shot hurt and burned!

Also I am going to call the office on Monday....I want to know the break down of what this all is costing me. They didn't give me anything but a return appt card. That tape stuff is a waste of money as far as I can see since it won't stay on your foot. I remember my son had a cast and he had a plastic cover thing so it didn't get wet in shower. To my mind that's the only way to keep this tape stuff on otherwise they can forget doing that again. No more shots for me either....one was bad enough.

I wanted to ask about those sock things mentioned on the other thread here but it was so rushed I didn't get a chance. And I have questioned related to my working out and going forward so I don't keep having this as a issue or doing something that could bring it on. I did spew that all out but he didn't respond just smiled and left.

Maybe it's cause I am a female....lot's of males don't listen when you talk or ask questions (at least that's been my experience). My internist is NOTHING like this...that's why I have been his patient for 9yrs. I don't want a 1hr chit chat LOL just 10mins would have been nice since I waited for 1hr to see him.

I will approach this differently next Thursday....armed and ready LOL!

deeva · ‎03-09-2010

I’d find another podiatrist. My doc explained everything to me. Had me try temporary orthotics that he constructed in his office for no additional fee.

I didn’t begin injections until several year later when the orthotics weren’t helping as much.

I’ve been pain free for six years even though I no longer need injections.

SeaMaiden · ‎03-10-2010

I would never return to a Dr who's office worked like that EVER. Plenty of good Drs out there happy to treat you well and take your money....not treat you like worthless and take your money.

I would also also face book them if they have a Facebook account and tell the world how you were treated.....just copy and paste your opening post. That is how to make a difference these days.

CelticCrafter · ‎03-09-2010

@SeaMaiden wrote:
I would never return to a Dr who's office worked like that EVER. Plenty of good Drs out there happy to treat you well and take your money....not treat you like worthless and take your money.

I would also also face book them if they have a Facebook account and tell the world how you were treated.....just copy and paste your opening post. That is how to make a difference these days.

I wouldn't do that until I found another doctor.

I heard on the news last night that a doctor is suing a patient for bad mouthing him on Yelp.