Knee doc?
http://gamedaydoc.com/
mrincredible said:
unicorn33 said:
Avoid Mirsky!
@unicorn33 why?
Long story, which I know I related on MOL at least once before (some time ago). In short, I was a patient of his for a shoulder problem. In terms of treatment, he was about average, but he totally screwed me as my doctor. I was applying for insurance, and one offhand diagnostic phrase he had casually written in my records caused my insurance company to classify me in a significantly more expensive tier. My insurance guy said that if I had Mirsky call to explain/clarify, I could get the lower rate. So I called Mirsky's office. And called again. And wrote a note. No response. No returned phone call. Nothing. So, my insurance guy himself called. Same thing. No response. No returned phone call. As a result, my premium got locked into the higher tier, and neither I nor my insurance guy ever got so much as a courtesy return phone call.
deborahg said:
Called many folks...all booked! Finally got an appt with Rosa's colleague Dr. Garcia for next week. Thanks all.
I was going to recommend Rosa and then saw your post. He replaced both of my knees 14 years ago and I can't say enough good things about him. I used Garcia about one and a half years ago for my shoulder and he was excellent. I'm sure that you will be well taken care of. Good luck!
Dr. Thomas Cava at PC rehab in West Orange. He's the best--but, you have to wait, and wait, and wait...bring a long book.
I liked him! Turns out cartilage is gone. Getting gel shots, which are helping.
Cartilage gone could mean eventual knee replacement. If so, go to a doctor who does lots and lots and lots of them, more than 100 a year. If it was a hip replacement, I would say hundreds a year. But knee replacement is less common.
You don't want to be on the slope of the learning curve with an operation like that.
Totally agree! I am on the young side so they hope to hold that off 5 years or so...but yes, that's where we are going. My doc does tons of them so that's good.
I was told that normally in a knee with arthritis as severe as mine they don't bother with arthroscopy because it doesn't work. In the next breath, I'm told "We don't do knee replacement on people in their 40s so let's scope you." They were ready to schedule me for next week.
Um,if it doesn't work then, why bother? I need a second opinion. Looking for someone now. Trying to decide if it's worth the schlepp to Hospital for Special Surgery.
@carolanne, I have a similar problem--too young for a replacement, severe arthritis in addition to the cartilage issue. The gel shots are really working for me. Definitely worth a try, and much less invasive.
deborahag,
Is Garcia giving you Synvisc? It does buy time. As I posted above, Rosa did my knee replacements 14 years ago. I found out about Synvisc and Rosa about 18 years ago at the Sneaker Factory in Millburn, when I was talking "knee talk" with Dean, the previous owner.
Yes! Just had 3 shots of synvisc and it is really helping. Not ready for impact sports but I can walk normally after eight months of hobbling around.
I did stuff to "buy time" and although it helped, it doesn't heal you. I eventually went to HSS for hip replacement...it was worth the schlep. (fyi - they may have or may be opening a place in northern NJ). My only regret is that I didn't do it sooner. I learned that although I thought I was managing my pain, it was managing me as I altered a lot of how I was living or not living my life. And although I was on the young side, it just meant for me I was able to rehab more quickly/aggressively. When its time for my next hip (which may be a number of years away but is statistically likely Ive been told), I will go directly back to HSS and I wont wait as long.
Hank,
I've often said "they gave me back my life" and have heard others who had knee replacements say the same thing.
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deborahg