Sunday, January 26, 2020

Dr. Google

Ouch!

Hubby was clearing a spot on our wooded property when he heard a distinct pop accompanied by pain in his right arm. 

He came inside and I found him seated, looking so shaky and stressed that it scared me. His explanation about what had happened assured me his condition wasn’t life-threatening.

He chose not to go for local medical attention. Instead he opened his laptop and consulted “Dr. Google.” His search confirmed what he suspected. A tendon had “popped” loose. The site he consulted noted six to eight weeks healing time.

He’s almost finished his fourth week and avoids movements that cause pain. I guess a computer search is better than nothing, but I agree with a physician’s online article outlining how to be sure your online sources for medical information are reliable.

Reliable or not, Dr. Google is busy. When I searched “Dr. Google” the results numbered about 7,430,000,000.

Usually I go to .gov or .edu sites or well-known sources such as Mayo Clinic. But that article made me aware that I need to pay a bit more attention to the reliability of online sources of information before making even minor decisions about health.

Among my most helpful sources, though, are fellow bloggers’ accounts of their experiences.

-30-

11 comments:

  1. Do they do surgery to reattach the tendon or does it just grow back together? 😕

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  2. Oh, that looks so painful! My son-in-law fell and sprained his ankle...and he said when he fell, you could have heard the pop all over the neighborhood...I bet it was tendon with him, too.

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  3. You are so right! This looks nasty. I hope he is not in pain!

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  4. Oh my that looks painful. I tore my rotator cuff about 4 years ago and chose to let it heal on its own. That didn't work for 3 years but I didn't want the surgery. Then my chiropractor gave me a hint that really helped. As I was reinjuring it almost daily, he said that when ever I reached for something or tried to lift U was to keep my elbow close to my ribs. I did that and I have been pain free for a year. Simple but worked for me. Sure hope he finds an answer soon.

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  5. I use doc google to diagnose myself, but I always go to my doctor. I tell her what I think it is and she tells me what it is. with something like this I would be there in a flash. if he waits all those weeks and he is wrong it will be anther 8 weeks. some things fix themselves others don't. yikes on this one.

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  6. Oh my, that looks painful. I also go to Dr Google, but the sound of a pop would definitely get me to a doctor whose degrees and reputation are familiar to me.

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  7. Oh ouch...that looks so painful.
    I hope he heals well without seeing a live person.
    Sometimes I guess time is the only healer though.
    Prayers for both of you.
    Sue

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  8. Sandi,what I read is that surgery is an option, but more often the option chosen is to accept some level of change in appearance and function as other muscles take over.

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  10. Well something somewhat similar to me as I fell and had a deep bleed in my left upper thigh, much swelling but no bruises or visible signs and then a long recovery for the muscle connecting my need to my hip finally weeks later things are looking up...............

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