The one question.

You're sitting in front of your medical provider and they offer you a diagnosis. You're trying to process the words they tell you and, in that moment, you have to choose whether or not you trust them.


There is one question you can ask that will let you know if this is the right provider for you:

"Can you help me to understand the differential diagnosis?"

This does a few things:
1. You gain clarity on the scary things that keep you up til midnight on WebMD. (Is it a sprain? A strain? Cancer???)
2. The doctor should have gone through an entire mental process as they examined you. If they can't (or are unwilling) to provide a reasonable explanation to that thought process, they aren't treating YOU, they're jumping on a cookie cutter diagnosis and solution.
3. You gain ownership of your diagnosis. You are now an active participant in your care. Ownership provides confidence and control. Control reduces perceived pain, increases quality of life, and motivates participation.

If your medical provider can't-or won't- answer your question, find one who will. YOU are the center of your care, not your injury. Anyone who doesn't honor that is wasting your time.