How to find a good doctor?

[cygnusx1]

Doesn't Canada have socialized medicine? Do you realize that we may have to bill you for our advice here?

 

Anyhow. Keep being persistent. Call the doc in the middle of the night because it hurts so bad you can't sleep. Do that a few times and you may get his/her attention.

[Guest Mike]

The treatment you're receiving sounds similar to those people insured through HMO's here in the USA. The docs receive big bonuses for NOT spending the insurance funds necessary to do proper testing or treatment. Therefore there are big financial incentives for them to allow patients to suffer or die.

[silicone boy]

One of these days, I'm gonna write a book about how to get the best care out of your doctor. It sounds like you are dealing with some burned out docs, but maybe not. It is important to organize the presentation of your symptoms chronologically, a causally...."I'm been having this pain in my groin radiating to the upper thigh for the past two years. It is (dull, sharp, burning, throbbing, etc) It is (constant/intermittent) and is made worse by exertion/straining......." You get the picture. It's important to tell them how long because most benign processes will go away. If they persist, we need to investigate further...we need to rule out something bad. I think you are on the right track with your suspicion of a hernia, either inguinal, direct, or femoral, but other causes could also be possible. The urologist could have picked up on the hernia thing, but maybe you should see another one to rule out any other urologic causes, and a general surgeon to prove or disprove the diagnosis of hernia. You should also try to get some more imaging in the form of a CT scan.

 

Good luck. Two years is too long for something like this to go on and I would keep at it. Don't give up on the medical system in Canada. It is a very good health system with talented physicians, you just have to be your own advocate.