When you’re tasked with a major life decision like purchasing a home or picking a college to attend, you look around and examine all your options before making a decision. So why don’t we do the same when it comes to surgery?
A lot of people seek out a second opinion prior to surgery, but many simply rely on the opinion of one doctor. Sure, your physician may be a great doctor, but as the old saying goes, “two heads are better than one.” Sometimes it just takes a fresh perspective or a surgeon with a different technique to give a patient a better option. Maybe instead of a major surgery you can get by with a minimally invasive option, or possibly avoid surgery altogether with a detailed rehab and strengthening program.
Countless patients have stopped in for a second opinion, and my suggestions have hit both sides of the spectrum. Sometimes I’ve confirmed the initial diagnosis, and other times I’ve discovered an underlying issue or another problem that was missed by the first doctor. I’m more than happy to provide a second opinion for any of the following reasons:
- Your physician told you too seek out a second opinion.
- You want another opinion after a previous operation failed to correct the issue.
- A previous operation led to additional problems.
- You want to see if surgery can be avoided.
- Your condition doesn’t seem to be improving.
Patients Know Best
I love hearing from satisfied patients, but my favorite reviews often come from patients who we’re given a renewed sense of hope after they visited me for a second opinion. Below are just a few reviews from patients who I assisted by providing them with a second opinion.
- ”5 years ago we met you in the ER. A 45,000 lb conveyer ran over my husband’s foot. 3 surgeons wanted to amputate his foot, you were called in and decided it could be saved. Today he is able to do everything he did before! You are an amazing surgeon, we are eternally grateful, can’t even imagine what life would have been if we had never met you!”
- “After several years of treatment for another condition, I looked to Dr. Silverman for a second opinion. He told me that I needed bunion surgery. I was very apprehensive as I had heard horror stories about the recovery, but I am happy to say that I was pain free after only two days of medication.”
- “I sprained my ankle for the umpteenth time Oct 2009. I went to ER and got little help, except to be told it was not broken. Then, I decided to make an appt. with our local ortho doctor and he said I needed surgery, but was very hurried and didn’t explain things to me. I went to PT and it wasn’t helping much. The PT confidentially “slipped” me Dr. Silverman’s name and said to go there for another opinion because she had seen great work from him. I went in Dec 2009 and he did many x-rays and other tests and told me what the problem was and that I needed surgery.”