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Tomaino Arm Care Network

Dr. Tomaino's Blog

Sharing Information Leads to Better Decisions

January 22nd, 2011
It goes without saying that being better informed probably improves one's ability to make decisions. When it comes to participating in your decisions regarding healthcare--being equipt not merley with information about your diagnosis, treatment options, risks and benefits thereof, and expected outcomes, but also perspective is undoubtedly of value.

Perspective may better enable the appropriate decision for you--given where you are in life in terms of functional demands, how much pain you are enduring, the liklihood that treatment will help you, and the potential downsides of living with things as is.

Yesterday I evaluated an 88 year old patient who visited me for a second opinion about his painful shoulder. This gem of a man has lived through colon cancer, and is active an enthusiastic about his next decade--never uttering a complaint about the colostomy bag he must carry with him permanently; "What good would complaining do?" he stated, matter of factly. He felt the same way about his shoulder, and after having read an article I wrote in "Healthy Living" magazine, recommending that "shoulder health" be added to one's list of New Year's resolutions, he called.

In Septemer, 2009 I wrote a blog about making sense of ambiguous information. Getting a second opinion is one way to do that. Another is more transparent--sharing information with family and friends--each of whom may offer their own perspective or past experience. Though not necessarily "scientific", dialogue may foster improved understanding and awareness, if only by raising additional questions to consider.

To that end, when I started the website: www.rearmyourself.com I added software to allow "public discourse." The Forums section allows anyone to register and to ask their own question or to comment on what has been posted. Each week I review these posts and offer my own perspective/opinion. When based on the available scientific evidence, I will say so; when based on mere opinion secondary to my experience as a shoulder, hand, and elbow specialist since 1994, I will stipulate.

To participate in this Forum please go to: http://www.rearmyourself.com/forum/

Click on "Register" and register to participate. To protect patient confidentiality, please use your first name only.

*POST EDITED BY DR. TOMAINO.

*POST EDITED BY DR. TOMAINO.

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