Longshot--Hand Surgeon or How Do You Find a Good Surgeon?

[bisous]

DH injured his ring finger on his right hand back in August in a biking accident. It wasn't a break but a soft tissue injury and you would not believe what a headache it has been! He is completely unable to straighten or bend it properly despite doing several months of intensive therapy. Thankfully he is able to still work. He is a right handed artist so that is pretty key!

The therapist doesn't see much of a future in therapy. His ligaments are just SO stiff due to scar tissue that despite some pretty aggressive techniques, it just doesn't seem to be improving and might actually be getting worse and stiffer. The therapist is similarly not sure that surgery is a good idea, partly because it is a very complicated surgery that doesn't always go right.

The surgeon has a different opinion. He thinks surgery could be successful and is pretty optimistic about it.

We are Kaiser patients and the OT and the Surgeon are both through Kaiser. Part of the reason for the OTs reluctance to recommend surgery is that all of the current surgeons are new and he isn't aware that any of the current surgeons have ever done the surgery that DH would need and that gives him pause. The therapist does not receive any additional compensation for continuing therapy with DH (he is paid a salary by Kaiser) so there isn't any reason for him to dissuade DH from surgery except he really doesn't know that it will be successful.

On the fat chance that anyone has dealt with a similar injury, I'm asking here but also to see if there is some kind of general guidance about making sure you get a GOOD surgeon? Or maybe dealing with Kaiser doctors at other facilities?

TIA!

[georgiegirl]

Go for a second opinion at UCLA. Also ask locally (Facebook or other network of friends) for people who know of hand surgeons. Doctors are generally more up to date on which medical procedures work compared to physical therapists. My DH has had hand surgery and he did a lot of research before picking a surgeon.


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[bisous]

Go for a second opinion at UCLA. Also ask locally (Facebook or other network of friends) for people who know of hand surgeons. Doctors are generally more up to date on which medical procedures work compared to physical therapists. My DH has had hand surgery and he did a lot of research before picking a surgeon.


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I'm not opposed to this. The only issue is that if we want Kaiser to pay for the surgery, we'll need for it to be a Kaiser surgeon! I don't know how expensive a surgery could be. If we go with a Kaiser surgeon it will cost us $100 (outpatient surgery cost). If we go "out of network" it won't be covered at all! I don't know if that means it will cost a couple thousand dollars or tens of thousands...does that make sense? One we might consider but maybe it is even something we delay until next open enrollment and we go with a different health insurance...we'd have to do the math! Kaiser is BY FAR the cheapest option for us because of DS1's type 1 diabetes--we use thousands of dollars worth of benefits in pharmacy and DME each month! So we'd have to weigh the OOP cost for the surgery... it is tricky!

[chlobo]

I'm not opposed to this. The only issue is that if we want Kaiser to pay for the surgery, we'll need for it to be a Kaiser surgeon! I don't know how expensive a surgery could be. If we go with a Kaiser surgeon it will cost us $100 (outpatient surgery cost). If we go "out of network" it won't be covered at all! I don't know if that means it will cost a couple thousand dollars or tens of thousands...does that make sense? One we might consider but maybe it is even something we delay until next open enrollment and we go with a different health insurance...we'd have to do the math! Kaiser is BY FAR the cheapest option for us because of DS1's type 1 diabetes--we use thousands of dollars worth of benefits in pharmacy and DME each month! So we'd have to weigh the OOP cost for the surgery... it is tricky!

Maybe getting a second opinion might put your mind at east about the first person's opinion? Or give you guidance about not doing it right now?

[MSWR0319]

Maybe getting a second opinion might put your mind at east about the first person's opinion? Or give you guidance about not doing it right now?

I would think that getting a second opinion would help you decide one way or the other. You wouldn't have to have that person do surgery, but it would put you at ease if you know what another person thinks. They may be willing to give you who they'd recommend as well if you tell them you need to stay in the Kaiser network. We've had drs recommend other drs when our network changed.

[georgiegirl]

Maybe getting a second opinion might put your mind at east about the first person's opinion? Or give you guidance about not doing it right now?

That’s the point of getting a second opinion, to make sure what the first surgeon is recommending is indeed the best course of action.


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[PZMommy]

Also you can get a second opinion through a different hand doctor at a different Kaiser. My husband needs an eye surgery and he has seen 4 different eye doctors at different Kaiser offices. He went with the one he liked best even though it is not his usual Kaiser office.

[DualvansMommy]

I would still get 2nd opinion, just to see the viability of this specific surgery is feasible. Cuz if the 2nd surgeon do say it is, that’s when you can bring it up to the first Kaiser surgeon.

I got 2nd opinion with a different foot surgeon on my specific break. Then went back to my 1st surgeon once I find out the 2nd recommendation was in line to my 1st. It was worth the peace of mind for me, cuz it meant a difference of 6 months in recovery between the 2 different suggestions.


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[SnuggleBuggles]

Get a 2nd opinion (in network or not). That info will allow you to ask better questions and make a more informed decision.


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[bisous]

This has been really helpful! Thank you. I think I really want to tap into the other Kaiser sites around me for that second opinion, though I the idea of just paying for a consultation from another provider doesn't sound too expensive. There are MANY Kaiser sites so I see this as a possibility. DS1 sees his pediatric Endo at Kaiser Sunset. Maybe he can work with his primary care specialist to tap into other specialists and get other opinions..