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I don't feel like my doctor really understands how much pain I'm in from a knee injury. Can I really trust his judgment about treatment options?

With good communication you may be able to clear up any confusion over your condition. Let your doctor know your concerns and clearly rate your pain for him. Ask your doctor for treatment options to choose from. Find out the pros and cons of each one.

Don't be too hard on your doc. Studies show that physicians often underrate patient's pain levels and assume they have more function than they really do. They base their ratings on other patients who have had the same thing. Patients compare symptoms from before to after injury or from one side to the other. No one can be inside your body but you. Doctors count on patients to inform them of symptoms and function.

One thing doctors do well and that's predicting how much pain and function patients will have after surgery. They have the advantage here since they see many patients from before to after surgery and know what to expect.

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