Requesting a second opinion is a common practice among patients. Unless the patient’s condition or injury is life threatening and they require an emergency care, then the patient is a perfectly good candidate for a second opinion.

Inquiring a second opinion is necessary when:

• Surgery is said to be the only treatment available for the patient.
• The patient suffers from a complex condition or a severe injury.
• The patient is told that there is no treatment available to improve their condition or address the injury.
• The patient is not comfortable with the impressions and diagnosis from the pain management doctor.
• The patient is not given detailed and clear answers to their questions about their orthopedic injury or condition.
• The condition returns shortly after the course of treatment.
• The symptoms keep occurring, but the pain management doctor can’t find the cause.
• The patient feels their condition or injury is incorrectly diagnosed.
• The doctor does not understand why the treatment is not working.