Does Your Doctor Understand Your Health Issues?

I find personally that this is a huge issue for everyone with a Spinal Cord Injury..Doctors in general just simply do not understand the health issues that are related to a Spinal Cord Injury.
Most times when i visit my doctor to discuss a problem that i am experiencing, if it is in anyway associated to my injury they have little knowledge or understanding.
I will generally be told that they are not specialised in that area and therefor can i discuss it with my spinal unit doctor. Which is ok but then i have a long trip to my unit...i have to arrange transport etc.

There are so many people becoming Spinal Cord Injured that surely doctors should be further trained in this area. I can remember being told that most doctors will only possibly meet one patient in their life with a Spinal Cord Injury. If i was a doctor and had a patient with something i little understood i would want to learn about it.
Im sure that some of us do have very understanding doctors who are more knowledgeable than others but maybe we can help our doctors understand our issues a little better?

I think its important that we explain our health issue clearly and confidently. If i am going with an issue that is related most likely to my SCI then start the conversation with...''I have a Spinal Cord Injury'' I dont presume that the Doctor has this info flagged on his computer or reads all my notes before my appointment.
I will then give him/her history of the issue...If i get the reply of he/she isn't specialised to deal with this then i will ask if they can refer me to someone who is. I will not leave without something being arranged.

If we go prepared to our doctors we will also make more use of our appointment time...I HATE being rushed....so be prepared..make the most of your time!



I am actually very tempted to go armed to further appointments with web addresses to sites like our forum that will expand a doctors understanding!