Ortho Dr just scared me

Geeze, Deb - I can understand your concern.  If every ache sends our docs into a flap, what are we supposed to do?  If your onco had concerns, it seems he wouldn't have told you that you were "worry-free".

Hope you get an answer soon.

Susan

In my experience, you can COUNT on docs insisting on more scans, labs and exams no matter what your complaint.

When I experienced a spinal cord bleed between the cord and the spinal column, was immediately referred to a neurosurgeon who wanted to open up my back and take bx's and then start all kinds of treatment.  He was very insistant and I took my dh on the next appt.

All in all, I decided not to do the surgery, (as a rehab case manager I've certainly seen my share of poor outcomes with back surgery)and to wait 6 weeks to get another MRI/CT (cannot remember which I did) to see if the lesion had been absorbed and decreased in size by any amount.  Thank God, it had become smaller and more defined as a blood and not a tumor. 

My gut just told me not to go with the surgery -- I slept on the decision for a few days and then with discussions with my dh, determined not to do it.

We have so many decisions to make with this disease in the beginning when we are on the low side of the learning curve.  Unfortunately, we have to also be aware that docs are just gonna be scared of missing something on, so they will lean toward more diagnostics and scarey treatments.

I don't think it's all CYA, cancer is such an insidious disease, no one can really be perfectly sure that doing all possible not to miss a mets.

Good luck with the frozen shoulder,  over time and with good PT, it can be resolved.  But it does take a while.  Worst case is possible surgery, so keep up with the PT and work at that to prevent any surgery.

Deb - I, too, have a frozen shoulder. I just finished chemo in Jan and the shoulder pain started in late Dec. I was positive it was more mets, but reg. scheduled PET showed nothing there. Dealt with it for 2 more months, still convinced it was mets, then another PET still showed nothing. Onc referred me to PT and it is much better! My onc was surprised that even after one PET showed nothing I still was worried about it being mets. He is the best, but apparently doesn't get the paranoia thing. Sorry about your shoulder and glad the shot helped. Acc. to my research most frozen shoulders resolve themselves, but can take as long as 2-3 yrs. Mine is much improved after only 3 wks. of PT.