Try not to worry too much, yet. I had a workers comp doc that I had to see, when my husband was out of town. Though it was humiliating to even ask, I asked my mother in law to go with me. They tried to keep her from coming in, they were so rude about it that i was shocked. But my going in alone was not going to happen. I wanted a witness for everything. This Dr read my MIL the riot act about her place and told me I was also not allowed to speak unless he directly asked me a question. Just because this guy said you should have surgery doesn't mean you will. You already know you shouldn't, just don't let yourself even feel pressured because they can't make you do anything. You might want to ask your orthopedist for advice, he may have had something like this happen to another patient before and might be willing to give you some advice or give you a referral to another doctor so that you will have his and another specialists diagnosis. I don't know if that would convince SS to allow you to see another SS Doc or not, OR if that is even necessary. I found that dealing with workers mop and social security, that persistence was the key. I was denied SS twice, moved from MI to AZ while the process was going on and had to appeal in both states and then went before the SS court in Tucson. I was terrified that moving would muddy up everything. It may have but I appealed and appealed and was even denied a judicial hearing and appealed that. Don't give up, you have to be persistent, and keeping trying. I did it without an attorney too, i read everything i could about the process and i documented everything i could and i gave them every gory detail about my life. It's such a joke that the process is so messed up. But don't think because this doctor gives you a half diagnosis that you won't get SS Disability. just hang in there and see this as the first hurdle, out of the way, and know there will be more and you will get through them. Soft hugs, Sylvia