THR Petrified

[Jamie]

Here are some options for you for different surgeons. You'll see that a number of them are with the Cleveland Clinic. Normally we recommend that people see someone who is totally unconnected with their current surgeon. But in your case, I think it may be worth considering just requesting a different surgeon, which you definitely can do. If you will give me the name of your current surgeon, I'll take a look at him. Surgeons really specialize these days and at this point you need a revision specialist who has dealt with problems like yours many times before.

Don't be worried. We're here to help you get through this challenge. Good for you for advocating for yourself when you felt something was wrong. We know our bodies better than anyone.

Akron, Ohio

Dr. Paul Wilke
Akron General Orthopedics/Cleveland Clinic
224 W. Exchange Street
Ste 440
Akron. Ohio 44302
330-344-2663

Knee and hip revisions.


Cleveland, Ohio

Dr. Viktor Krebs
Cleveland Clinic
Primary and revision hips and knees
Speaker at 2018 ICJR workshop on problem hips and knees

Dr. Bernie Stulberg(Cleveland) - works with high BMI patients


Virtual doctor appointments are available from Cleveland Clinic:
The Cleveland Clinic ortho site suggests they have a very reasonably priced virtual visit and a remote consultation review.

Virtual Visits with Orthopaedics

Select patients now can see our providers online from their home or office by using the Cleveland Clinic Express Care® Online tool. This service allows patients a fast, secure and easy way to receive care from their healthcare team in a live virtual visit using a smartphone (iPhone or Android), tablet or computer. The benefits of choosing a virtual visit include no travel or parking, less waiting, significant time savings, no facility fee and the convenience of seeing your physician from wherever you choose.

Virtual visits with an orthopedic surgeon.

New patients with common knee injuries or knee pain.

Established patients scheduling follow-up care appointments such as:

Post-Surgical & wound check visits
Fracture care follow-up
Injection follow-up
Musculoskeletal injury follow-up
Per-operative teaching prior to surgery
Ask your physician if a virtual visit follow-up appointment is right for your follow-up care.

What is the cost of an orthopaedic virtual visit?

New patients: $75
Follow-up visits: $49
Post-surgical visits: $0*
Fracture care visits: $0*
*Within 90 days of incident.
If you would like to use Express Care Online for your next visit, please call your provider’s office. If you are eligible, our team will schedule your virtual visit and provide details on the cost of your appointment and setup instructions.

MyConsult

The MyConsult online medical second opinion service securely connects you to the specialty physician expertise you need when you are faced with a serious diagnosis. Following a thorough review of your medical records and diagnostic tests, Cleveland Clinic experts render a medical second opinion that includes treatment options or alternatives, as well as recommendations regarding your future therapeutic considerations.
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/departments/orthopaedics-rheumatology/appointments-locations

 

[mendogal]

Sometimes things happen, even with a good surgeon. But, yes, you should see a different surgeon who specializes in revisions and does a lot of them.

As it looks like you're under Medicare age, there may be limitations based on your insurance of course.

Please keep us posted.

 

[Hippie Chick]

Be mindful of calendar years with your insurance coverage as it impacts when new deductibles start. Not always January 1st.

 

[Mailman]

Sometimes things happen, even with a good surgeon.

Yes but no one should be treated this way! The patient deserves the benefit of the doubt, not the physician.


The patient should pay to remedy such a situation because the 90 day warranty has expired?
As if a faulty joint replacement is equivalent to a defective toaster?

This story is horrific.

 

[CherokeeGem]

Here are some options for you for different surgeons. You'll see that a number of them are with the Cleveland Clinic. Normally we recommend that people see someone who is totally unconnected with their current surgeon. But in your case, I think it may be worth considering just requesting a different surgeon, which you definitely can do. If you will give me the name of your current surgeon, I'll take a look at him. Surgeons really specialize these days and at this point you need a revision specialist who has dealt with problems like yours many times before.

Don't be worried. We're here to help you get through this challenge. Good for you for advocating for yourself when you felt something was wrong. We know our bodies better than anyone.

Akron, Ohio

Dr. Paul Wilke
Akron General Orthopedics/Cleveland Clinic
224 W. Exchange Street
Ste 440
Akron. Ohio 44302
330-344-2663

Knee and hip revisions.


Cleveland, Ohio

Dr. Viktor Krebs
Cleveland Clinic
Primary and revision hips and knees
Speaker at 2018 ICJR workshop on problem hips and knees

Dr. Bernie Stulberg(Cleveland) - works with high BMI patients


Virtual doctor appointments are available from Cleveland Clinic:
The Cleveland Clinic ortho site suggests they have a very reasonably priced virtual visit and a remote consultation review.

Virtual Visits with Orthopaedics

Select patients now can see our providers online from their home or office by using the Cleveland Clinic Express Care® Online tool. This service allows patients a fast, secure and easy way to receive care from their healthcare team in a live virtual visit using a smartphone (iPhone or Android), tablet or computer. The benefits of choosing a virtual visit include no travel or parking, less waiting, significant time savings, no facility fee and the convenience of seeing your physician from wherever you choose.

Virtual visits with an orthopedic surgeon.

New patients with common knee injuries or knee pain.

Established patients scheduling follow-up care appointments such as:

Post-Surgical & wound check visits
Fracture care follow-up
Injection follow-up
Musculoskeletal injury follow-up
Per-operative teaching prior to surgery
Ask your physician if a virtual visit follow-up appointment is right for your follow-up care.

What is the cost of an orthopaedic virtual visit?

New patients: $75
Follow-up visits: $49
Post-surgical visits: $0*
Fracture care visits: $0*
*Within 90 days of incident.
If you would like to use Express Care Online for your next visit, please call your provider’s office. If you are eligible, our team will schedule your virtual visit and provide details on the cost of your appointment and setup instructions.

MyConsult

The MyConsult online medical second opinion service securely connects you to the specialty physician expertise you need when you are faced with a serious diagnosis. Following a thorough review of your medical records and diagnostic tests, Cleveland Clinic experts render a medical second opinion that includes treatment options or alternatives, as well as recommendations regarding your future therapeutic considerations.
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/departments/orthopaedics-rheumatology/appointments-locations

I hope I'm replying to these messages the correct way. My current Surgeon is Dr.Skiraky in Medina, Ohio with Cleveland Clinic. He must not know what to do because he said he needed to speak to some other specialist to see where to go from here in the meantime they're leaving me in this miserable pain and he won't see me until July 17th.

 

[CherokeeGem]

I'm sorry there's 10 screenshots here because I am totally ignorant about any of this and I have no one to help me and I just don't know what to do. I'm so scared, depressed, distraught and not thinking clearly because I'm not being able to sleep. I'm not getting all of the replies to my messages from this board and I'm not familiar with how to work it. These are just showing some conversations and the only replies I get and I believe that all of them he's only replied to two he has put me off on other people. I just don't know what to do and I think you all so much for your patience and kind words and advice.

 

[mendogal]

@CherokeeGem
Each of us can only have one "recovery thread", and this is yours. So you indeed are now posting to the right place.

I will take some time later this evening to review the screenshots you attached. (I'm on the west coast so it's earlier here!)

 

[mendogal]

If you want to get notifications when someone replies to you here, scroll up, and above the top post on this page, on the right, there's a little box that says "Watch."
Click the box and you will get a new small box that lets you choose to get an email notification or just to be notified via the tiny "bell" icon at the upper right of the page.

 

[Jamie]

I looked at the biography information on your surgeon and it does appear he is more of a general surgeon than one who specializes in joint replacement surgery. This can sometimes cause problems if the surgeon doesn’t do enough hip replacements each year. We recommend our members use surgeons who do at least 100 hip replacements (not hip surgeries) annually. There is no mention of him specializing in revision surgery, so I don’t think he’s the person you want to be seeing from this point on.

Since the stem of your implant is loose (as you said the MRI showed), you need to NOT be walking on that leg, even with a cane. I realize that you have financial obligations and may need to work to live, but going up and down ladders and bending over to paint baseboards could cause you some severe problems. That movement associated with the loose stem can damage your femur and you want to avoid that in this time while you are waiting for a revision. If the stem is loose, it will not heal. It is most likely that a revision surgery will be required.

I suggest you contact the main hospital for Cleveland Clinic and push to get an appointment immediately with one of their surgeons who specializes in hip revision surgery. Explain what has happened and how much pain you are in. If you don’t get an appointment in a reasonable amount of time, you could call the hospital’s patient advocate office and get them involved. Or you could go to the Emergency Room at the main hospital in Cleveland. It’s important to go to this ER as they would be most likely to get you seen by a revision surgeon.

You can contact your GP to see about getting some prescription medication to help you deal with the pain while you are arranging to see a different surgeon. But please do not use this medication and work on a ladder. If at all possible, you need to take time away from your work so you can stay off your leg, ice, and keep your leg elevated.

From what you’ve written, it does sound like neither your surgeon nor the PA you saw was familiar with a loose stem. This is all the more reason to get to someone quickly who can accurately evaluate your situation and help you as soon as possible.

Please don’t hesitate to post here if you need additional support or guidance. I’m sorry this has happened to you, but it’s something that does occur sometimes with joint replacements. Let us know how things go.

 

[mendogal]

Your screenshots really didn't add to the history you provided - which is to your credit because you've explained your situation to us very well.

I agree with Jamie that you should do whatever is necessary to get yourself an appointment with one of the two revision specialists she included in her reply to you.

I realize your insurance might require you to go through your primary care provider for this new referral or otherwise jump through hoops.

Or as Jamie suggests, you might opt for an ER visit.

But you don't just want your existing surgeon to get ideas from a specialist. You want and deserve to be seen by one.

 

[Jamie]

I’ll second mendogal’s recommendation….it is imperative that you have a face-to-face appointment with a revision specialist orthopedic surgeon.

 

[CherokeeGem]

Thank you all so so very much. I will look into all of this first thing Monday morning. But as you seen he told me it was okay to continue walking with a cane but my pain is progressively getting worse I can almost feel like something is stabbing me in my pelvis area every time I take a step. I live alone and have no support system.
I can't thank you both enough for all your advice and help. I've received more answers here than I have from my surgeon in 10 months.

 

[Jamie]

You mentioned having grand babies that you visited…..does your son or daughter live close enough to you to help? What about any friends or neighbors that might help you in some ways? Or possibly members of a church you attend? Sometimes there are ways to get some help when you need it.

There are also county social services offices you can check with to see what type of assistance you might qualify for temporarily. I know it’s not fun, but if you need help with food, I’m sure there are food pantries in your area you can also take advantage of when needed. Please don’t feel bad about doing something like this. We all experience challenging times in our lives. You’ll get through this. You sound very strong and capable and I’m glad to hear you’re going to get on this on Monday. If at all possible, take this weekend off to rest and let your body recover a bit. You can take 1000mg of Tylenol every 6 hours on a schedule for the pain, providing you don’t have any existing liver problems and you’re not taking anything else with acetaminophen in it. You might try to check with your GP over the weekend about pain management. There is usually someone available on call 24/7 for things like this that you could talk to.

 

[CherokeeGem]

Again thank you so much for taking time to help me. I just could not believe that strangers are so helpful and kind. As far as my two kids go I don't see any help from them in the future. Yes it's very hard to ask for help I've always been a very strong independent person and this has stripped everything from me. The pain is so horrible times I'm afraid to wake up face how much pain I will have that day. I've always been very passive but I am going to stand up for myself and get the help that I need should be myself again. I will contact someone first thing Monday morning about getting in to see hopefully Dr Krebs. I did the research that I could my best ability that was recommended and I want to meet with him and see what he is like. I'm not sure how I'm supposed to get around if I'm not supposed to walk on my leg with a cane. I just still can't thank you all enough for taking time out of your days to help me with this. For the first time in 10 months I feel hopeful again.

 

[Auntie D]

@CherokeeGem I’m also so sorry you are this uncomfortable post surgery and agree, you need a second opinion. Keep us posted and praying for you to get a speedy resolve.

 

[CherokeeGem]

Not a healthcare professional in any sense of the word, all I can give is my experiences. What did you do post-op in recovery? I found with my left I did more than I should have and it led to unnecessary pains. What do you do when you're active and working?

The other doctor I seen said there was nothing I did wrong, I did everything I was supposed to do. I've been told that my implant is too large that's what the PA told me when I seen him in person.

 

[CherokeeGem]

Sorry about your pain @CherokeeGem !
I also have a physical job where I move around/up and down. I didn’t go back to work until 6 months post surgery and even then I took it “easy”. By the end of the year I was feeling soooo much better- stronger, more energy and way less random jabs of pain. I still get (post 1.5 now) those wacky zips and zags that jolt me in my sleep. I’m told that they are nerves healing. After surgery I was left with a bit of sciatica behind my thigh but I deal it fine I suppose. Hoping that you can be less physical for a week or so and at least test to see if the pain goes away. And yes, ice is your best friend!!

Yes I was hoping that that's what mine was just healing but it's not attached to my bone and they said there was nothing I did wrong the implant is just too large.

 

[CherokeeGem]

I will update everyone after I make the necessary calls Monday morning. God Bless you all and thank you so very much I've gotten more help and answers here than I have from my Surgeon.

 

[Jamie]

If you can get crutches or a walker, you can be mobile without putting weight on your surgery leg. Sometimes you can find these items for a reasonable price at a second-hand store. There are many of them in Akron. You could call around and see if any had crutches or a walker available. If you cannot get one of these, use the cane, but try as much as you can not to put much weight on your surgery leg.

 

[CherokeeGem]

If you can get crutches or a walker, you can be mobile without putting weight on your surgery leg. Sometimes you can find these items for a reasonable price at a second-hand store. There are many of them in Akron. You could call around and see if any had crutches or a walker available. If you cannot get one of these, use the cane, but try as much as you can not to put much weight on your surgery leg.

I'm just so confused the doctor that did this said it was okay to walk with a cane and sometimes without if I'm able to? I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do I don't want to damage it any more but sometimes I can take a few steps in my home without the cane. I don't understand why my surgeon has to talk with specialists and won't see me and told July 17th and is not giving me any help until then.