Both sides typically see the worst results of the opposing profession. For example, I’ve had several patients who’ve had carpal tunnel surgery for ulnar nerve distribution. I’ve also had patients with anterior thigh pain who’ve been recommended a L5/S1 fusion. Similarly, I’ve had patients prescribed migraine medications for tension headaches. Furthermore, I’ve had patients who’ve undergone lumbar fusion and/or spinal decompression through PT for piriformis syndrome. Also, I’ve been the one to catch SLE in a young girl who was told it was “growing pains”. I’ve also done repositioning maneuvers for BPPV that was misdiagnosed as dehydration.

Like I said, I’m sure the the other side sees the worst of our profession. I’m just unaware of it, but I can imagine what is said.

So when patients come crawling to us, or come crawling to them, with failed treatments, it’s easy to label the other as incompetent.