Why I Traveled Over 600 Miles to See My Doctor

Simply put, I’ve learned the hard way that it’s best to keep a good doctor rather than settle for whoever is nearby. I can’t travel forever to see my old endocrinologist, but it was one less thing to figure out when I moved from NJ to NC. I had a fantastic endo in NYC, and it took me half a dozen doctors in NJ before I finally found the right one to stick with.

I’ve spoken with many people who’ve undergone spinal surgery and opted for local surgeons for convenience, whether in a small town or a large city, and ended up regretting not opening their scope of options. Finding the right surgeon is a crucial task, not one to rush into, especially for serious surgeries where the stakes are high. I also know people who travel to other states for their procedures—and no, it’s not convenient for anyone, but sometimes it’s worth it.

I’ve also had people who live just 20 miles from me ask if I know someone who does what I do but closer to them. We’re surrounded by generalists, but when it comes to finding the right doctor, therapist, or scoliosis-specific exercise specialist, proximity shouldn’t be the deciding factor.

When was the last time you hugged your doctor? I hope it was recently if you needed one.