This is not medical advice.
I noticed this fascinating phenomenon on social media, that is something positive in medical circles. I’ll get to that in a minute. You can skip to that section if you don’t want to read this rant.
Some people will be upset by the mere mention of the Unmentionable on Substack. I get it. Elon has banned me from Twitter for using a rival. Twitter was a great way to promote our pages, however it’s not the only platform. I have had great success on Facebook, and Reddit also.
Sometimes it feels better to take the high road. Am I a fan of everything Elon does? Of course not, and that is not possible for anyone to achieve, except saints, like Willie Nelson, or Dolly Parton.
I’m a big fan of his Space X accomplishments, and his self effacing sense of humor, which is sorely lacking in many famous and political people.
If you or I were in charge these days, at least 30% of the population would think we are wrong, and would hate our guts.
The next big thing in medicine?
I know most people would say AI, but I don’t want a diagnosis from Dr Lexus, or a computer.
I have been following some doctors and radiologists on Twitter. They will frequently post imaging on their page. All patients are of course anonymous to protect the guilty (“patient fell of ladder after admittedly drinking a 6 pack…”)
What follows is truly astonishing in medical circles. If you read the thread, you might get 20 different medical opinions of what to do, or how to fix a fracture, sometimes in a matter of one hour.
Consider how extrordinary that is for a minute. It might take you 3 weeks (or longer) to get in to see a specialist. You will likely wait to get seen. Charged hundreds of dollars. One opinion after 10 minutes.
If you are lucky enough to have an xray featured in one of these threads, you might get 20 opinions in a hour, for free.
I know there are some cons to this. One, is that you will need to question the credentials of the people making these opinions. Not everyone is anonymous. Some are relatively famous doctors and chairs at university settings. There is usually a consensus of opinions, and some outliers. But that’s what you want. Contrasting opinions to help you decide what to do.
Maybe some of you are angry that this can’t happen all the time. I agree it’s frustrating. These forums are a great way to learn about many medical conditions, and to look at some imaging.
It’s good at improving the medical field. People are learning from each other.
Years ago an orthopedic surgeon volunteered an hour a week to show us his xray cases for the week. This went on for the 9 years that I was at that company. It was an amazing learning experience.
Other social media
Facebook is unlikely to go this route, as it’s not anonymous. There is (was, before covid) a strict federal privacy policy, concerning your medical records. Facebook is not anonymous, so opinions there would be difficult, and given by your friends and family (definitely don’t want their advice on what to do! :)).
Reddit has some medical forums, however they are filled with yahoos like your truly. Not a good route either for xrays. Reddit does have great forums on strengthening, stretching, yoga, nutrition, exercises, etc.
Know your body
I would argue that it’s ok to research your own medical conditions. Yes, people in the medical field roll their eyes at people who say they read something on the internet, but we shouldn’t. Do we have a perfect track record? Hardly. Then we should shut up.
You are paying for a medical opinion, quite a bit actually.
Don’t argue with the doctor either. You are looking for an opinion, they are offering one. No one should be angry, in either direction. Do your own research, and decide if that opinion is right for you.