I’m not sure minimizer is even a word, but what I mean is are you one who minimizes the patients condition when you report it to them? Do you tell it like it is, or do you soft-peddle the reality?
Allow me to give you an example. You have a new patient that is complaining of neck pain. They just woke up with it a couple of weeks ago. They have had it off and on for years, but never this bad. They tell you that they have been to chiropractors before, and after one or two adjustments they left feeling great.
If you are a doctor who tends to minimize, you might say something like, “it sounds like you have had this before, and well, it looks like you got it again…lay down on the table and let’s fix ‘r up.” Maybe you do better than that. Maybe you tell the patient that it sounds like the cause has never been addressed and you do an examination and take some x-rays.
When you view the x-rays you see a reversed cervical curve with phase II degenerative disc disease. In the back of your mind you remember that patient saying, “one or two visits and I’m great.” You start to think you need to downplay the severity of the condition. You fear that if you tell it like it is that you will lose the patient to the guy down the street that can fix him in two visits. So, when you give your report of findings, you tell the patient, “it looks like you have lost some of your normal curve in your neck and I see a few spurs forming around this disc that has thinned down a little bit.” You minimized big time!
Let’s have a reality check here. Reality: phase II degenerative disc disease is evidence of a long-standing condition likely over 20 years in progress. Reality: a reversed cervical curve left in its current state will continue to promote degeneration of the discs. Reality: the above will result in increasing nerve impingement over time which will lead to further dysfunction in the tissues supplied by those nerves.
I am not asking any of you to exaggerate the condition whatsoever, but you owe it to the patients that you serve to tell it like it is, and let the chips fall where they may. Your patients deserve the best you have to offer. Let them make an informed decision.
Hi Dr Barrows,
I was just looking at this article when a patient called. Then I used the words you mentioned and the patient wants a care plan. Yes I am a minimizer and I am excited to start with AMC very soon.
In your picture, It actually looks like you are smiling.
Have a nice day. Thanks for the blog.