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I wanted to recount MY recent health issues and the outcomes in an effort to show you that it is absolutely imperative that you find THE BEST physicians and dentists to take care of you.
Four years ago, I tore my rotator cuff and I asked my physical therapist who THE BEST surgeon was to treat my problem. His answer: 1. The renown sports surgeon James Andrews in Alabama or
2. David Altchek at Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan. Dr. Altchek takes care of the Yankees, Mets, Knicks and tennis players. He performed my surgery and I returned to work 25 days later.
Two years ago my knee was killing me and I again asked my physical therapist who THE BEST
knee replacement surgeon was and he responded: Thomas Sculco, Chief of Surgery at Hospital for Special Surgery. I returned to work 26 days after a total knee replacement and never had a day of physical therapy. And as you remember, the knee replacement was in the leg that was amputated in a car accident (1976) and reattached by the late, great Dr. Roger Seibel.
After I fell and fractured my shoulder, I called Dr. Sculco and asked who I needed to see at Hospital for Special Surgery for a shoulder replacement. His response: Dr. Lawrence Gulotta. Dr. Gulotta performed a reverse shoulder replacement on March 5 and I returned to work on April 9, 34 days after surgery.
My first shoulder surgery was uncomfortable while my knee replacement was definitely a challenge.
The shoulder replacement was in a different realm with regards to pain and inability to function. If you add up all of the lost days to recover from the three surgeries, the total is 85 days...
EIGHTY FIVE DAYS!!!!!!!!
When Tricia, my office manager looked up on the internet how long the recovery period is for a total knee replacement, she read as long as 6 months. I was not our of work for three months for all three surgeries.
Why????????????
Because I selected THE FINEST surgeons that I could find and let them do their magic. Patients need to learn that when you, indeed find fabulous people to take care of you that you must get out of their way and let them do what they are soooo good at doing.
People have told me that I was fortunate to be able to pay for the best but that is not necessarily so. I had the same insurance that everyone at The STATE has for my first two surgeries. And because I would not let an angry surgeon perform surgery on my shoulder, I did make a significant contribution to his research but that was my choice. In the big picture, I would have sold my cars to pay for the finest care that I could find.
The lesson of this blog: If you want to return to a normal life after surgery, find the best people to take care of you BEFORE surgery.
