In your case, specific to your skin, doctor continuity doesn’t seem to matter as much.
I go straight to the dermatologist. I have a family history of skin cancer and other skin conditions that are pre-cancerous, so I don’t bother with the PCP, knowing that I’ll be referred to a derm. So, that being said, my dermatologist is a lot more costly than a visit to my PCP, but for me, it’s worth it, because odds are I’ll be sent to the dermatologist either way.
As others mentioned, if seeing your PCP first means you’ll be able to see a dermatologist sooner, well, that’s a factor I’d weigh heavily.
Another advantage, to me, of going to the dermatologist is that i get two exams for the price of one. I go to a teaching hospital for most of my care. So i get an intern or a medical student examining my skin, and then the experienced doctor does it, and then they consult. It takes longer, but when they say, “that’s just an age spot” i believe them.
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Oddly enough, I had a hard time scheduling with my PCP in the next month, and I have a checkup in September. So I decided to wait, even though I know if we talk about skin cancer we won’t talk about my high blood pressure and low iron.
So I called a dermatologist and they had a late August appt.
I now recall that the last time I tried to get in with a dermatologist it was a dr who was sought after. I sure hope the one I get is good at least.
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Whatever they say, bring it here for the professionals to review.
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I’m honestly not expecting them to say much. I just want to establish a relationship.
You can get that here for free!
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If you have a lot of freckles and moles, this can be important. They map out any spots of concern and monitor them for changes. You want to be a repeat customer for this stuff.
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This is the case.
Taking a short course of diclofenac for a lingering muscle strain. Holy cow, the side effect list reads like the Happy Fun Ball disclaimer.
Me too. Also have a family history.
i had to take an antibiotic once for pneumonia. “may cause achilles tendon rupture.”
great.
Allegedly that is a 1/100,000 issue for Cipro. However, I had 2 co-workers have an achilles snap while on it and I had a spontaneous partial tear in my calf muscle. Given my muscle tear, I always list it as a drug allergy now.
levaquin (sp) took it summer of 2010.
achilles ruptured in early 2013. I think unrelated, tbh. but i have a sliver of wonder.
Yep. They are both fluoroquinolones.
Even worse, the other rare side effect for this drug class is spontaneous rupture/tear of the aorta
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But I’m sure the TV commercial had somebody playing in the meadow and bonding with their family such that you had no clue what was being advertised.
In its own way, this also solves whatever issue existed before the medicine.
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7 days ago I injured my leg. It does feel a little better, but I am still in pain. The most sore spot is right at the very top of the calf muscle just below the knee on the outside edge. It’s painful there if even slight pressure is applied. My amateur diagnosis is still a slight tear, but so far the recovery seems slower than when I was diagnosed with a partially torn calf muscle years ago. I’m older now though so perhaps healing is slower.
I’ll probably give it another week before I consider professional treatment.
Your description sounds like a tear/pull of the gastrocnemius. The vast majority of pulled calf muscles are to the inside of the calf. However, the outside of the gastrocnemius can tear when the leg is locked out and you make an unusual movement.
Rest and a PT regimen will help you recover. 1 or 2 PT appointments will be enough, provided that you commit to the stretching/exercises at home.
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Heading out today for a revisit of my ankle sprain from last December. MRI showed a partial ligament tear, chronic grade 2 sprain.
My stability is fine. I requested the MRI bc it still hurts. The more I walk, the more it hurts.
I’m interested and also nervous about what the ortho will have to say.
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