Dr. James Garrick
Few Things Really Make Me Cry Hard
ARGHHHHHH! I was not even scheduled to SEE Dr. James Garrick! I was scheduled to see Dr. Lewis, then RESCHEDULED to see Dr. Prieto (who seemed great according to other ) then I was baited and switched and ended up with this guy.
Look…he wasn’t awful and didn’t hurt me more…BUT I don’t feel he really listened to me well. I didn’t leave feeling 1oz better than I did when I got there.
I went in to see him about pain in my knee caused by a specific incident in a class at the gym.
Isolated, sharp pain- that occurs repeatedly with similar motions.
I am not trying to self-diagnose but basically he told me there was nothing wrong, it was a fluke pain and now my leg needs to restrengthen around it.
To which I replied- well are you saying my leg was weak before so that’s why I got hurt? Because he compared the perceived strength I had in each leg and noted that my one was now “weaker”- no shit Sherlock, I’ve been laying off it considerably for 2 weeks– of course it’s feeling weaker! Argh!
So without even any next steps set forth beyond “work on strengthening that leg for the next 2 weeks and if it still hurts come back and I’ll have been wrong” – I am left with no real sense of security or feeling like someone had any conclusion for me whatsoever.
I would have appreciated a “it could be this” or “it could be that” – and an “in 2 weeks if it still hurts here’s what we’ll do or re-examine…”
But no. He seemed pretty confident he was right and that it’s really nothing- I am not sure I even believe him and am probably going to get a second opinion. Dammit- I wish I had even seen the doctor I was SCHEDULED to see.
And I DID note that to the front desk staff and asked WHY they sent someone else in to see me- the only reason I was given was that Dr. Prieto must have been very busy- WHAT?! SO?! you tell someone it will be a few minutes of waiting- you don’t send in another doctor- that’s rude.
You just don’t send another doctor in when one is busy without at least noting it to the patient.
I had high hopes for this visit- really wanted to feel like I know what the F was up with my knee. I am infinitely bummed at the moment.
Few things really make me cry hard- this experience had me leaving the office in angry, upset, frustrated tears.
Never Again
Jim Garrick is one of the finest physicians I’ve ever been treated by. After a lot of frustration with local orthopedists, he took a long distance phone call from me, told me what he thought the diagnosis might be based on my phone description,
and arranged for an MRI and arthroscopic surgery in SF basically before we had ever met. When we met in his office and the MRI confirmed his suspicions, I had the surgery, and he did his very best to help me. His physical therapy support staff are top notch, too. I’d listen to his advice.
The book he wrote ?20 years ago now, Peak Condition, still has good, common sense advice on how to self treat & rehab various injuries.
(Human bodies & injuries unfortunately haven’t changed over the years.) The person with the funny, stabbing pain might identify with something in it. I’m amazed Dr. Garrick was even available to cover for another physician.