[Disorder7]

I went to a doctor for carpal tunnel syndrome. When they found out I had "issues" they started asking me questions about physical and sexual abuse. I'm not sure what that had to do with carpal tunnel syndrome. Then they left me in a room, with big needles, for 30 minutes.
I freaked out and ran out the door before I could get the shots.

I'm not sure why I'm posting on here, other than to say I was triggered and this is what happened.

[sherbet]

It's ok. They should have known better. It sounds unkind to ask someone a bunch of uncomfortable questions and then leave them in a room with big needles for a half hour. I feel like many doctors don't really understand what it's like to be triggered and how uncomfortable it is to talk about these things.

My ob-gyn's form had checkboxes for different types of abuse for the new patient to just casually check off. I struggled for weeks (I could print the form before going in) and decided not to check anything off. I couldn't imagine why they would ask unless they wanted to have uncomfortable conversations about it while I'm in an advanced state of undress. Since my physical abuse had nothing to do with anything I needed to discuss with the gyno I didn't feel like it was any of her business. I took my discomfort with the form to mean I should probably direct my concerns to a therapist instead.

I have carpal tunnel too, by the way. I don't generally believe in this kind of stuff but I got a deep massage (specifically for the carpal tunnel) and it got much better. When the guy was pressing on the top of my spinal column I felt the shock course through my affected fingertips. He hit the right nerve. I tried what the doctor said at first (NSAIDS/wrist brace), and I did it for a couple years whenever the problem recurred, but the carpal tunnel just seemed to progress to the point that I could no longer hold mildly heavy objects without dropping them (in my mid-20s). I don't know how advanced your carpal tunnel is or whether this story is relevant to you at all, but doctors say it's from overuse and sometimes it's really a pinched nerve.

[AnomalousCarrotCake]

I wouldn't answer any questions unless you felt comfortable answering them. I don't always respond to every checkbox on a doctor office form myself, and sometimes a simple "yes" or "no" box doesn't help even if I did want to answer (it's not always a simple answer for some questions).

One thing I learned, though, may shed some light on why doctors are asking about these experiences:

I've been reading a lot lately about trauma and the development of chronic illness and even common conditions like type two diabetes and heart disease. It turns out more doctors are asking questions now about people's past abuse/trauma history to help screen for developing certain conditions and staying on top of them.

Some doctors might use their patients' answers to encourage people to seek therapy, antidepressants, etc because there is evidence that depression and trauma are linked to developing certain physical conditions, and try to prevent those from developing. For example, there's research that was published today online about how being treated for depression lowers the risk of heart disease.

Asking patients if they have a history of trauma/abuse came out of discussions and medical conferences based on a study conducted by Kaiser Permanente on 17,000 people, a study called the ACE study or Adverse Childhood Experience study (acestudy.org). If you look it up on Google, you'll find more info about it including people who formed support groups around it.

[AnomalousCarrotCake]

Wanted to add here:

They were insensitive to your needs if you were triggered, and then left alone in a room for 30 minutes with sharp needles.

We need more doctors who are trauma-informed, and not blithely asking about traumatic experiences in a form or brief interview during the appointment as if they were asking "paper or plastic".

There are good ways and bad ways to go about addressing trauma.

[TheCryingGame]

Originally Posted by Disorder7

I went to a doctor for carpal tunnel syndrome. When they found out I had "issues" they started asking me questions about physical and sexual abuse. I'm not sure what that had to do with carpal tunnel syndrome. Then they left me in a room, with big needles, for 30 minutes.
I freaked out and ran out the door before I could get the shots.

I'm not sure why I'm posting on here, other than to say I was triggered and this is what happened.

I have done the same thing before in a doctors office when they started asking too many questions. It made me feel uncomfortable and I have anxiety and panic attacks so I grabbed my stuff and left. Your not the only on that has been there....its was a little weird calling them to reschedule my appointment but I just told them I have anxiety problems and felt they were crossing boundaries by asking too many questions. Your not alone!

ACE study or Adverse Childhood Experience study (acestudy.org). If you look it up on Google, you'll find more info about it including people who formed support groups around it

Thanks for that, I had no idea they had support groups. That study gives me hope that people with our trauma backgrounds can be helped.

Are you under 18--could that be why they asked so much? I know those are common screening questions, but a little odd if you went in for carpal tunnel.

I don't like those questions either, I've purposely withheld that information before/lied so that my physical problems would get diagnosed and treated. I've suffered from various undiagnosed medical problems for years b/c I disclosed my mental health issues and constantly was given antidepressants.

Sorry you had such a troubling experience.