I went bowling and pulled a muscle. To have the injury checked out, I visited a doctor I hadn’t been to.
The guy was friendly and listened to my story. He felt the muscles near my ribs and asked questions. Eventually, he suggested I get an x-ray, which his staff took care of immediately. Once the pictures were ready, he looked at them, explained nothing was broken, and recommended the simplest of treatments: wait and see. Some tablets for the pain, some cream for the muscles, and that was it.
A week later, I returned for a check-in. My situation had improved, but I was far from running an obstacle course. I told him I could handle whatever pain was left easily and that I was trying to stretch a bit every day. He floated the idea that whatever felt natural, I could and should do. Just don’t try to bench 200—pounds or kg, for that matter. He asked if I wanted more meds, which I declined. The conclusion was basically a confident shrug. “Technically, this should work itself out.” More wait and see. Got it!
So now, I’m back to stretching, observing, and waiting. The question I have is: Was this a good doctor? Or a bad one? I have no idea yet. It’s too early to tell. And while, in theory, it’s always too early to tell, reality requires decisions. When will I try to get another check-up? In another week? Three weeks post-injury? And if so, would this guy have more to say? Or should I try another doctor? Did he suggest just the right treatment or not enough?
Outside of waiting at least one more week, I have no answers. And before that week is up, I know I also won’t find them. Because right now, I cannot tell and, as often, only time will. The trick is recognizing when that’s the case, and when you have the right dose of information to choose a path and move forward.
It’s just as any decent doctor would recommend: Keep checking in. You never know when muscles or ideas click back into place—but if you probe them once a week, month, or quarter, you’ll eventually find out. In the meantime, allow the question to continue floating in your mind: When can you tell?
