Thousands of times per day all across our country, people are visiting Doctors, Chiropractors, Physiotherapists or other health professionals looking for a solution to a health problem. After diagnosing the patient’s health problem through a physical exam and history the health professional will then begin to treat the patient’s ailments based on that diagnosis.

But….

What if That Diagnosis Was Wrong?

This happens more than most people realize and more than us health professionals are willing to admit. The fact is that sometimes we get it wrong and this is one of the main reasons people do not see an improvement in their condition. You see, the diagnosis is what determines the treatment plan, so it is of vital importance to get the diagnosis right or else someone could receive medication for something they don’t have, receive an adjustment to their spine they don’t need, or be prescribed an exercise that could injure them.

Sadly, many health professionals don’t take the time to formulate the right diagnosis and in some cases don’t have the time to even do so. Unfortunately for the patient, this is where mistakes happen and could be the case if the patient is not showing signs of improvement.

If you believe you have been diagnosed incorrectly, then there are a few steps you can take.

First, speak with your doctor and let them know that you are not noticing any changes. Sometimes treatments can take a while to have an effect, but ask your doctor or physiotherapist when you should expect changes to happen.

Secondly, you can seek out the opinion of another health professional. If you decide to take this approach then scrutinize who you are going to see next by asking about their diagnostic process. Make sure your new health care provider will perform a detailed examination at your first visit and is willing to look at your previous findings. When you attend the new office, be sure to present with your previous reports and findings as this can go a long way in helping your new provider understand your case, which will lead to a more specific approach.

At the end of your initial exam if you feel the health care provider has listened to all your concerns and examined your area of complaints thoroughly, then you will likely receive an accurate diagnosis and have good outcomes with that practitioner.
It really is that simple.

Specificity of diagnosis = Specificity of treatments = Specificity of results.