6 Signs You Need Another Doctor

Sometimes a seemingly minor symptom or athletic injury sidelines you for longer than you'd like. Some injuries just need rest and icing, but others may land you in front of a doctor. Not every treatment plan requires a second opinion. But when you're undergoing a treatment plan--and anxious to be active again--it's important to know when to seek a different perspective.

How Fit Are You? 10 DIY Tests to Find Out

You're told that there's nothing to be done.
Almost all symptoms and injuries are treatable. So if a doctor tells you he can do nothing for you, make an appointment with another expert. That diagnosis most likely means "there's nothing more that that doctor can offer," says Michael Ross, M.D., medical director of The Rothman Institute Performance Lab in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. And while some conditions could certainly curtail your plans, you'll want to confirm a diagnosis like that with another physician before you quit your regular routine altogether.

How to Stay Active While Hurting

Your doctor doesn't ask about your overall health status.
When you go to a doctor complaining of a pain, it's easy to focus exclusively on the body part that's hurt. But a skilled doctor will also ask questions about your health habits and try to gauge your fitness level, says Jim Chesnutt, M.D., medical director of sports medicine at the Oregon Health & Science University in Portland. Athletes who aren't getting enough sleep, for example, may be prone to injuries. A diet deficient in calcium and vitamin D may make you vulnerable to stress fractures. Inexperienced athletes may be trying to do too much too soon. If your doctor doesn't take the rest of your health into account, consider getting a second opinion.

5 Health Tests You Need Every Year

You've developed a new pain.
Sue Walsh was a month from the Chicago Marathon in 2008 when she developed an IT-band injury and visited a physical therapist. "The IT band got better, but my hip flexor on that same side started to hurt," says Walsh, 33, from Brooklyn. "I couldn't get it together for the marathon."

An appropriate treatment plan should not cause new symptoms. "A patient who is experiencing increased pain or pain in new locations is likely getting therapy that is overly aggressive for their condition, or was misdiagnosed and should be reassessed," says Michael Chin, D.P.M., medical director of The Running Institute in Chicago.

Another doctor later diagnosed Walsh with femoroacetabular impingement, a bone deformity of the hip that required surgery. She finally got back to running two years after the initial IT-band issue.

10 Ways to Stay Injury Free

You notice no improvements after two to four weeks.
Most injuries should improve and pain should diminish after four to six sessions of therapy, Dr. Chin says. If they don't, the rehab plan may be too conservative. David Bakke, 45, of Atlanta, was diagnosed with runner's knee a week after he started bounding up the steps of the local football stadium. He was told to do some stretching exercises and rest for seven to 10 days. After two weeks, when he'd noticed no improvements, Bakke went to see another doctor who prescribed exercises to strengthen his quadriceps. "In about 10 days, I was finally able to resume my full workout," says Bakke.

4 Signs You Can Start Working Out Again

Your injuries keep recurring.
Repeat injuries--or a series of different injuries--suggest you may have an underlying health problem that isn't being addressed, says Lewis Maharam, M.D., a sports-medicine doctor in New York City and author of the Running Doc's Guide to Healthy Running. Dr. Maharam says he once treated a woman who had recurring fractures in her hip and feet every three months. "She was biomechanically sound, and her bone density test was normal," he said. "But we did a blood test, and found she had a parathyroid tumor."

When it's OK to Take a Rest Day

You haven't been given other ways to stay in shape.
A good rehab plan should include exercises to help you stay fit while you're on the road to recovery. "Sometimes athletes don't realize they need to take a break and do some cross-training," Dr. Chesnutt says. Even more important is that the doctor understands your goals. Knowing you're weeks from a marathon, for example, your doctor may attempt a more aggressive treatment plan. But if you're months away, you may have the time to rest and heal without additional testing or interventions. If your doctor doesn't ask you about your fitness goals, consider seeing another doctor who does.

Debate: Can You Be Fit and Fat?

Who Do You Call? Reach out to the right help when you need it. Here's who you should contact for your second opinion.

Primary doctor Unless you have an established doctor-patient relationship with a sports-physician specialist, call your primary doctor first, says Michael Ross, M.D., of The Performance Lab, because he or she knows you.

Physical therapist While straightforward injuries, such as a mild ankle sprain, can be easily managed by your general practitioner, many running pains are the result of muscular imbalances, overtraining or overuse, or poor running mechanics. A physical therapist can tailor a rehab plan to fit your needs and goals.

Sports specialist If you've closely followed a rehab plan but aren't seeing results--or if you have complex running problems--it's time to seek a doctor who's done an accredited fellowship in sports medicine, says Lewis Maharam, M.D. These are doctors who've been trained in running mechanics and who can spot the underlying problems that are the cause of many injuries. "The doctor should look at how you run and be able to advise you on things like gait and preventive measures," he says. Find one at www.amssm.org.

The Secret to Finding Quality Medical Care

TELL US: How much do you trust your doctor's advice?

--By Winnie Yu, Runner's World

More from Runner's World:

Foods That Help You Recover Faster

Workout Moves That Prevent Pain and Injury

Natural Cures for Pain Relief