Second Opinion
Posted by Laura Nelson on October 2, 2009
By Dr. Ruth Martens, M.D., D. Ht
Lately I’ve had a few patients with extraordinarily difficult or complicated cases. They arrived in my office because they were uncertain where to turn to or they wanted an opinion from a medical doctor who was familiar with conventional treatments and alternatives that other physicians often don’t recommend. I am pleased to be viewed in that way and happy to perform that service.
That is not to say that I try to twist arms to do alternative medicine, whether homeopathy, acupuncture, osteopathy or any of the many complementary disciplines. But I have a unique perspective in that I went to medical school and learned all the traditional methods of dealing with the myriad problems that can afflict a person and know what to expect from traveling that path. I also have 28 years experience using homeopathic medicines, nutrition and recommending some of the many other forms of therapy that are often without any of the consequences of traditional treatments.
When should you get a second opinion?
• Your physician is not a specialist in the area you need help with or does not have experience with your problems.
• Your problems are serious and you want confirmation that you are making the right decisions
• You would like information on treatments or alternatives that your doctor is not familiar with.
• You have a communication problem with your physician.
• You are unsure of the course of treatment your doctor recommends and would like more choices.
• If you have more than one physician, you would like someone to look at the whole picture and be able to explain things to you in a way you can understand.
I practice what I call integrative medicine which means the treatments I use are not exclusive of other treatments. Not all patients need the same thing even for the same diagnosis. I sometimes recommend Classical Homeopathy first, other times Osteopathic Manipulation or Acupuncture and sometimes, surgery is the best first step. Classical Homeopathy and Acupuncture are very strong forms of medicine that can treat very serious problems with none of the consequences of traditional medicine.
Remember that tests that have already been done do not need to be repeated. Most insurance companies will cover a second opinion and some even require it before treatment begins for some cases.
If you are interested in a second opinion from a physician who understands both traditional and nontraditional medicine please call the office for an appointment.
Dr. Martens is a family physician specializing in natural medicine and homeopathy in Wheaton. For more information or to make an appointment, call (630) 668-5595.
Tags:Health & Fitness
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Plum-Glazed Pork Ribs, Chicken Provencal, Honey Barbequed Steak, and Tilapia in Spanish Red Sauce are just a few of the creative October menu items. There are also delicious side dishes, like Asparagus, Smoked Provolone & Bacon, Sweet Potato Souffle, and Sweet Corn Bake. Desserts include Caramel Walnut Apple Pie, Nanaimo Bars, and a variety of cookies.
Entrée Kitchen offers three ways to obtain these delicious meals, prepped and assembled in their custom-designed kitchen and cooked in yours. Choose between self-assembly, pick-up, or delivery service to your home or workplace. All meals are prepared with fresh ingredients and are designed and packaged for freezing to serve any time. Each meal serves six–but can be split for singles or empty-nesters.