Here's why I'm not a big fan of the medical industry. .

During a home improvement project, I notice my finger (left pinky) begin to feel stiff and pained. It gets stuck when I try to make or release a fist. Since I dont have a "doctor" per se, I go to the nearest Urgent Care center on 7/15.

The UC Doctor diagnoses it possible arthritis and prescribes 2400mg of ibuprofen a day. (an Advil tablet has 200mg) He also refers me to a general practitioner, who would then refer me to a hand specialist. The closest appoitment available was 8/4.

I show up, wait about an hour, and an assistant takes my weight, blood pressure, etc. She notices my BP is high (around 150/90). I mention that Ive never had high BP before, and it probably has to do with the medication, or the stress of finding out I might have arthritis.The doctor prescribes hydroclorozidone to decrease my BP. He gives me an "EKG" test, and recommends a follow up appointment to take an "Echo" test, and make me drop my pants, touch my balls and stick his finger up my ass. . . . . . . . .I mean a physical.

As for the finger, he puts a splint on it as if it were a sprain. Even though I explain it only gets better after I move my finger around, and that its feels the worst when its stays in the same position for a long period of time. He gives me a card for a hand specialist, and advises me to call him if Im not feelling better in a week.

After a couple days, I remove the splint, and predicably feel excruciating pain when try to move the finger. I set up an appointment with the specialist for 8/10 (today) at 9:45.

I arrive at 9:45.

I wait an hour in the waiting room, before the nurst brings me bak to an exam room.

I wait another hour in that room, and consider bailing. I bailed out on an ear/nose/throat doctor after a one hour wait. But in that case, my ear infection has pretty much cleared up between the weeks I made my appointment and the day I showed up. Plus, they never took my insurance info, so they couldnt bill me. But my fingers condition isnt going to clear up. I gain nothing by splitting. They've got me by the proverbial balls. Just like that other doctor will in a month. So I wait.

Hand Specialist finally shows up. I explain the situation. He says it's not arthritis or a sprain. He gives me a medical term (which I forgot) but the layman term is "trigger finger". He gives me a cortisone shot, confident that it should do the job.

So there you have it. One problem. Three Doctors. Three diagnoses.

I figured I was out of the woods with these glorified charlatans. But then I remembered about the physical.


[heavy sigh]