ok thanx for the info....carry on

Tony...first....thanks for the details and shedding some light on what's required besides the actual operation. I telephoned them this afternoon to inquire about further information.

I wasn't aware that PT is the most important aspect of successful recovery.

I don't need knee replacemnt, but I DO have a torn meniscus that has to get dealt with.

I've been to three orthopedists in my area and I wouldn't trade a harmonica for all three of them. I was going to go to the (nationally known) Hospital for Special Surgery in NYC, but you reminded me the PT would be difficult.

I think I could do Freehold....much easier than trying to get into NY every day.

Would you mind telling me what else you know about him. My biggest need is to talk to an orthopedist who knows what dialogue actually is. Second biggest need is "medical track record."

I'm due for another MRI and another consultation. I know you know him personally, and I'm sure he's a nice fellow but DO you know him "medically." And, you're saying he's "easy to talk with and addresses your questions?

Mark, I do not have 'personal' medical experience with him ... as stated in my post, after receiving the Harvard/Mass General fellowship (which I would think says quite a bit), he was assigned to the orthopedic team for 3 professional NE sports teams ... He started with a small practice in NJ which has grown tremendously, to the point that I think they now have a specialist for every bone in your body ...
I have met a number of his associates through social settings with our son, and, yes, I believe he is the type of doctor who will discuss the situation with a patient.
Granted, he knows us as 'family', but he has never hesitated to talk to us at length about any question we may have.

Donny: my meniscus repair was a little more involved. It was floating un-attached to anything. They had to drill a hole at an angle through myTibia, and then run sutures through the hole and anchor it to the Tibia. All in hopes that the meniscus will grow together with the bone. The doctor said the procedure went well and I have to admit...my knee feels a lot tighter now. Before, it would feel loose and tend to give out occasionally.

Glad I had it done. As Chicago said, “Feelin’ stronger everyday”.

Good luck,
PS: preliminary PT did not help my situation. Hope it works out for you.
jingleman

jingleman ... while PT would not have helped a meniscus that was 'floating around', PT might have had residual help for the other muscles around that knee, thereby helping with post-op rehab ...
Your thoughts ...?

Tony........I called them late today. I'll call again tomorrow morning and get more info. She DID say they have a staff of 18 doctors so that says something there. It's not urgent but I'm not doing stairs well. It HAS to be done....only things holding me up is fear of an operation (had a bad experience when I was a kid), and, as I said, three different orthopedists and they all say something different ("walk until you can't walk anymore"..."the operation has to be done immediately".....etc, etc.

But I DO have to see an ortho again around now and get another MRI. So I'll call the office again tomorrow morning and make a decision on seeing Dr. Petrosini this time around.

Mark

Coincidentally, I ran into a friend last week who had a hip replacement. He said he never felt better.....feels like a kid again......wishes he had done it sooner. Been thinking about that ever since. I'd like to get back to running and weightlifting again. Can't do it now 'cause I have no stability in the legs (both knees suffered meniscus tears when I jumped from a height).

So.......two questions.

Any of you had knee operations and come out of it feeling like new? Any come out feeling worse?

And.......any of you going through the "no communication or caring from you doctor routine" like I've been experiencing. It's strictly business where I live....you either sign up for the operation or you don't. Nothing in-between. I mean, like, would you buy a TOTL keyboard without researching it thoroughly with someone like Frank or George or AJ?

Come to think of it, maybe I'll ask Frank if he can do the operation for me. I trust him more than these "big business" doctors I'm dealing with now!

Tony: You probably are right about strengthening the muscles around the knee. Any form of PT in the area of an injury can't be a bad thing.

My Dr. just came to the conclusion that further PT would not improve the condition any further. So...time to cut.

Word around the office (where many have had similar surgeries)have stated that full healing can take about a year (depending on the procedure). I think mine will take about that long.

My mother, who is dead now, had both knees replaced at the age of about 70. She regained full mobility and had almost zero problems during recovery. I'm sure procedures have improved even since then, 25 or so years later.

My brother, now gone... blew out a knee playing college basketball back in the 50's and ortho was not available then. It was so painful and the recovery was so long, he would not even consider the newer forms of surgery as he developed knee problems later in life. His weight was brought on by over-eating and the lack of exercise... he had loved golf.

Sadly, if he had gone ahead with the "repair or replace" surgery available, he would have been able to continue golf and kept his weight down. Pain can be a terrible memory but I sure miss him.

Don, I sent you an MP3 of my first attempt on the 970. Thanks, it is a fantastic instrument... even in the hands of a Klutz like me. LOL! Break a leg tonight at Ernests. ----Dave (the other one)