Road Rage in the Doctor’s Office |Biomedgrid

A man appears in my office. Distinguished looking, a CEO, in his early 70's. He is here because he has minor, intermittent knee pain. His exam and XR's are consistent with early osteoarthritis. I suggest that he take an anti-inflammatory medication such as Motrin when needed. He tells me that Motrin works well and he has no problem tolerating it, but that he doesn't intend to take pills for the rest of his life. He says he wants to have his knee fixed. When I realize that he is talking about a total joint replacement, I suggest that this is perhaps premature, considering how well he is functioning, and that even if the surgery goes smoothly, a joint replacement is never as good as one's own knee. I repeat that surgery is perhaps not the appropriate treatment for the minor symptoms that he is having. He repeats that he wants his knee fixed. He insists on a second opinion.