Pediatric Doctors - Cerebral Palsy Message Board

skigirl1689 · 09-03-2006, 09:58 AM

I am wondering what will happen when I turn 18 in regards to seeing my pediatric doctor. The only specialist I see is my orthopedic surgeon who specializes in pediatrics. I've been seeing him for 14 years and really, really like him as my doctor. So my question is will I have to find a different doctor when I turn 18??? Do they notify you that you can't see your doctor anymore because your now an adult??? My doctor wants to remove my plates and pins that he put in 5 1/2 weeks ago when he operated on me in 1-2 years from now but I'll be 18 by then so I don't know if I'll have to find another doctor to do it.

JellyRJFan · 09-03-2006, 10:15 AM

I've been seeing the same ortho since I was 2 and I am now almost 21. I think it depends on their individual policy so I would call them and ask. I don't know what I am going to do when mine retires!

skigirl1689 · 09-03-2006, 04:52 PM

JellyRJFan,

I know what you mean. My doctor is 64 and still practicing. I would have thought that he would be training someone by now to take over for him but he is still the only peds ortho at the clinic I go to and the clinic is huge and very well known in the Midwest. I just can't imagine going to anyone but him. I think I'll ask at my next appointment.

Malwm01 · 09-03-2006, 10:34 PM

The peds Drs I've seen take people until they turn 21, so your safe for now. I haven't been to the dr since then, so I couldn't tell you what to do after that.

insomnio · 09-04-2006, 02:09 AM

I had been out of care from a ped ortho for almost 16 years. But I started having problems again, went to a regular Ortho and he suggested (after getting a bunch of co-pays) that I should go see a pediatric ortho. Visited him, scheduled my surgery a few days later. It seems like we'll probably have to always go to the pediatrics, mostly because they're the ones with most of the experiance with CP. I know the first guy I went to wasnt very comfortable treating me and when it came to surgery, wouldnt do it at all. So it goes.

edit:
I'm at the ripe old age of 23. Saw him last spring. Kind of strange sitting in a waiting room full of kids and moms.