A Good Doctor ... or a GREAT Doctor?

   “A good doctor treats the disease; 

the great doctor treats the patient who has the disease.” – William Osler

"What the …?” After a 17 mile training run, I was taking my house key out of my pocket when I noticed my hands. They were white and cold. What is this?
I immediately called my primary care doctor, I felt fine but my hands were freaking me out. By the time I arrived in her office, some color had returned. She held my hands and examined them. “This looks like Raynaud syndrome. What have you been doing?” she asked.
I told her about my training run. She stared at me …

What would be treated, the “disease” or me? 

Three Important Questions:

1. Does your doctor have experience treating runners?

Even if your doctor seems to be an excellent doctor based on her credentials and training, it is important to have a doctor who enjoys working with runners; has experience treating running injuries; and understands the physiological and biochemical differences between running and non-running patients. 

• My doctor responded, “Listen. I don’t have experience treating runners. Every day I beg my patients to exercise. But I suspect the medication, which I prescribe routinely to many patients, has caused this. I know a cardiologist who is a runner and specializes in treating athletes. Let’s get you an appointment with him.”

2. Does your doctor run?

If my friends and family can’t understand why I am running, how will a total stranger like a doctor understand me better? If your doctor doesn’t run, you can’t expect her to understand your passion for running. 

• The first thing the cardiologist said to me was, “So you’re training for a marathon, which one?” I knew I was in good hands. After chatting about our favorite races, we were able to work out an effective treatment plan. I ran my marathon and I have never experienced Raynaud syndrome again. He was great.

According to a survey of 4,950 doctors in the U.S. conducted by AMA Insurance, running is popular among doctors. Approximately 50% of the doctors surveyed who were under the age of 40 said they ran. Among those ages 40 to 59, 36% run and those age 60 and up, 23% run.

And while doctors who are runners may be more prevalent in practices related to sports medicine (cardiology, orthopedics, podiatry, etc.), they are out there - even my breast doctor is a runner!  

• At my last appointment, we shared our pandemic running experiences. She encouraged me to keep running and emphasized the positive impact running has on my health and wellness. We discussed an array of medications to reduce my breast cancer risk and then which one would be best for me - a runner. She is great.

3. Does your doctor say, "Stop running"?

“Stop running,” is the easiest thing for a doctor to say. This is understandable from a doctor’s point of view. If you have a specific running injury, your doctor wants to treat the “disease.” A good doctor wants you to heal. A great doctor wants you to heal, too. Plus a great doctor will work with you to create a customized plan to get you back to running.

 After a running injury, doctors will often ask you to switch from running to riding a bike, swimming or working out on an elliptical. These exercises can decrease high impact stresses, especially in the feet and ankles. This type of lower impact exercising can help running injuries heal.  

However, many doctors will attempt to talk you into permanently switching from running to a “different kind of exercise.” That advice is appropriate for people who are exercising to lose weight or maintain a certain fitness level but not for you if running is your passion, your lifestyle.

 If you are experiencing other health issues, you could hire a good doctor to provide expert advice and guidance on your specific “disease”.  But you want to hire a great doctor.  A great doctor has the medical “know-how” and is willing to work with you to develop strategies which specifically treat you.   

It is crucial that you explain to your doctor that, for you, running is not entertainment, it’s not a way for you to lose weight, and it’s not simply “exercise.” Make it clear to your doctor that running is an essential part of your life - physically, mentally, and spiritually. If, after sharing this, your doctor treats your running as a “disease,” go find a great doctor who will treat YOU!