TKR still waiting to reach the other side

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:snork: How did I learn so much? It took me over 50 years, honey!

I looked up your doctor and have found something interesting on Health Grades, a site that rates surgeons according to what they do and how much of it. This is your chap's ratings

aflagsforworship.co.uk_jo_pic_images_drkrauss.jpg


It shows that he is not an exclusive knee surgeon but actually does an awful lot of other stuff too! Including hip surgery, occupational health and even PT! In other words (and by my reckoning) he's a bit of a generalist. So while he might well know a lot about knee replacement, he doesn't actually specialise in it. 22 minutes for a TKR is also a bit astounding too. Never known that before.

However, that doesn't necessarily make him a bad knee surgeon, just maybe not someone who exclusively does this kind of surgery. With any of this surgery, more is better so I would love to know how many TKRs he actually does each year. I would always want to find a chap who does about 250-300.
I trust know the old saying
Q: Can you tell me how to get to Carnegie Hall?
A: Practice, practice, practice!

:wink1:

Another point - was that MRI done since that surgery?
 
yes the surgery was one year ago in december the mri was last week. he boasts doing ten a day three or more days a week for years he even travels all over the world doing them for the poor. read his bio he is very full of himself and has done quite a lot to be proud of. supposedly he developed his own knee system with biomet that he uses. he has a biomet rep at the hospital evry time he does surgery. his routine knee is less than 30 minutes
 
Well then, I am totally mystified, Sandra. I really cannot see how there is damage in the trochlear groove when it is supposedly covered by the prosthesis.
 
I should think you do, my dear. I will go back to what has been said before: you need to see another surgeon and one who specialises in revision of TKRs. If you want help to find one, I'll get Jamie to chime in and she can look up surgeons in your area if you give her your address or zip code and how far you are prepared to travel to see the right person. @Jamie:
 
These stories are appalling and inexcusable! I had a couple of bad turns, but having been through 16 months of pre-training during m dad's decline, we've all gotten pretty truculent abou this kind of stuff ad don't take it quietly. It looks to me as if MOST health care professionals want to do the right things, but the situation doesn't always make it easy. In addition, some small percentage have drinken the krazy koolaid and lost touch with reality.

Here's a conversation I had with one of my dad's doctors (dad was 90 and struggling with kidney failure and MRSA pneumonia). "We may need to perform a bone marrow extraction on your dad fo testing." Me (appalled because I've had one of those and they HURT), "WHY?" Doc:"He may have geriatric leukemia." Me: "What decisions will we make based on knowing that?" Doc: "We will decide whether or not to put him on chemotherapy." Me: "Okay, we have decided. No chemotherapy."

I don't know WHAT people are thinking sometimes! Where does patient care fit into all of this????

La
 
i would love any and all reccomendations for a surgeon i live in bellmore new york 11710 as far as distance I am willing to travel 30 miles i guess thanks again
 
I grew up near you.
North Shore University Hospital is a good institution, and you could call their ortho department to get the names of Revisionists. They are in close affiliation with LIJ, another good hospital.

For closer to you, I'd try to get a Revisionist at Winthrop in Mineola. My dad got excellent treatment there. They are affiliated with Stony Brook.

If you really want to expand your search beyond Nassau County, the Hospital for Special Surgery has an outstanding Orthopedic reputation .Upper East Side, I think.

Though I live in Boston now, I was headed that way for my knee but I lucked out and found a Surgeon I trust in a hospital known for Orthopedics.
I feel very sorry that you are going through this. Just know that you are not alone...

Sandy
 
Sandy's suggestions are excellent. When I looked on the North Shore Hospital's web site, like so many of these sites they don't have the doctors' specialties provided with their bios. So....I suggest you call the contact number (866-914-9393) and ask who on their staff is a knee revision specialist. You may be asked to explain a bit about your situation for them to get you to the right person. Make an appointment and go for a second opinion. Take all your past films and any other documentation you have on what has been done.

I also would recommend an opinion from one of the doctors at the Hospital for Special Surgery. Here is a list of doctors that specialize in revisions. The two with asterisks appeared to be a little more experienced in difficult cases than the others according to their biographies.

Dr. Mathias Bostrom 212-606-1674
* Dr. Alejandro Gonzales Della Valle 2212-774-7505
* Dr. Russell Windsor 212-606-1166
Dr. Douglas Padgett 212-606-1917
Dr. Geoffrey Westrich 212-606-1510
 
ok again thank you everyone. One last question, I understand not one of you is my doctor and I won't treat what you tell me as gospel, (although all of your knowledge does seem more divine and informed); all this being said, tell me do you guys think this is something that is of a surgical thing? Or do you believe this is just a time resolved thing?

I have no problems getting second and third opinions but even in their opinions I will doubt their intents. If you guys believe surgery will help then I will do it all tomorrow. So tell me reasons for and against.T hank you - I have no judgment left or perception of right wrong. so let me please trust your thoughts.
 
Without a doubt 'I think' this needs surgery. The 'tear' in the ligament is unlikely to heal itself and the damage in the patella definitely won't heal. Nor will this problematic damage in the trochlear groove.

So it looks to me like you need
1. a patellar resurfacing
2. probably a stitch or two in the ligament
3. attention to the trochlear groove - but you know I am puzzled by this so will be most keen to see what a decent surgeon says about it.
 
I sure wish you could come with me. As much as I have two caring people in my life their voices are very small right now. I have always been the strong one who takes care of everything and everyone. I wish I had another undamaged one of me to handle all of this. I never truly recovered mentally or physically from all of the trauma involved in both of my knee stories. I have been through more than my share. I have, of course, used therapy avenues but I haven't had enough time to pass to get my mental or physical footing back. I am not sitting and feeling sorry for myself either but darnit, I just can't get up. It feels a bit bizarre to reach out to people whose names and lives are not a part of mine and I am not a religious person so faith in humanity is as far as faith goes. I know I am not alone in all this but most of the time I am painfully aware that I am alone and only I can alter this course. If any of you knew me you would know this is not my normal way of laying down and taking it so I guess I am saying thanks:hairpulling::friends:
 
Wanted to thank everyone for their help at this time in my life feeling so vulnerable. My depression has and is bigger than me right now.
 
Sandra, my dear lady, please don't worry about it. We do understand. I understood your sense of despair and frustration the very first time you posted in here. And you're not alone. Lots of people feel bewildered by all this stuff, that's why BoneSmart exists, to try and help you cope with it all. So don't let that incident get to you. It's just a little blip. Let's focus on this bigger issue of getting you to a good revision surgeon who can give you an really good, informed and expert opinion about what's going on in your knee and why you have all this pain. Okay?
 
Sandra,
My thoughts and prayers are with you. You have had more than your share. I hope you can find a good revision specialist soon and get some answers. I will be watching for more updates.

Best Wishes
 
Have you had a chance to take a look at any of those doctors I gave you? Please let me know if you need help getting to their web links so you can see their photos and read about their experience. Sometimes that helps in the selection process.
 
So very sorry to hear of your troubles and I understand the pain you are in. You've gone through a tremendous trial and emotions are as much a part of hurt and healing as the body. You are not alone - we are here for you,
 
Thank you for the well wishes. Every journey is one we take in hopes of reaching a destination. It's the people you meet and greet along the way that make it better. I really am thankful for everyone's help wishes and thoughts.

I am pursuing all of the first, second, third and fourth opinions. I have another one today. I picked a revision surgeon at the Hospital for Special Surgeries. His office asked for all of my test results first before seeing him to see if he would consider taking on my problem.

The pain management doctor reviewed all the tests and results and looked at me and asked why are they not addressing this? Why are they asking you to wait (he actually seemed angry)? Said this is ridiculous at this point.

I have sent quite a few emails to the original surgeon's assistant who has been trying through all this to help me and at times she has even challenged him with the way he has handled my case. It's been a week and all is silent. She hasn't returned any messages. She too is frustrated with my surgeon and I can only assume she has been instructed to back off to see if i will just go away. I kind of wish i could do that.... just go away and be all better. It's unrealistic. So I am pushing myself even harder to get up and find answers .

The pain is not getting better enough that i can say, wow feels better! But there is a difference. Very hard to measure that difference. I can say I am not crying from shooting spasms as often...yesterday I didn't want to leave my chair or my house. I did want to just give up and I didn't. I called my partner back and said please come pick me up. I want to at least walk through the door of the gym.

I wound up staying a half hour doing some seated light lifting and was a part of the world for a while. I went to physical therapy after that and used the stepper for 10 minutes - no resistance. I maybe have a 50 degree bend so the bicycle i couldn't get more than quarter to half turns, but I even tried that for a two minute span. And then he rubbed the leg and worked on it. Then I went next door to Bagel Boss and bought a cup of coffee with my wife and had a few little conversations with strangers.
 
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