Better way to research doctors?

[bad_knee@33]

Hi,
Can anyone give me advice about researching specific doctors who do TKR other than looking them up on-line?
I'm trying to find out about Dr. Cyran, Dr. Oakes, and Dr. Bengs- all from UCLA.

What are the basic questions that one should have answered before deciding who they want to do the surgery?


Thanks,
Jen

[jathib]

Go here and scroll down to the second blog. It will give you some basic questions you need to ask your surgeon. It's written by a knee replacement specialist from New York.

http://blogs.webmd.com/arthritis-and-joint-replacement/

[bad_knee@33]

Thank you.

[chrisMancini]

HI,
Before I found my Dr. I interviewed her. I actually asked her on my first appt of the name of some of her patients and she gave me five nuymbers. I also went to the hospital and asked the nurses on the Ortho recovery wing about her. Then as a last resort I looked up her license on the state of Ca department of consumer affairs web page to see if there were any actions against her...this all worked out and I found the most genuine non ego DR ever....Good luck with your search.....

chris

[Plumb]

Get a second or third set of eyes. See a few doctors. Remember you are placing your life with the doctor you choose and there is no need to rush into anything.  Talk about your pain levels and quality of life.  Maybe even keep a pain diary for a bit.  Read a few diary's on this site you will find several different outcomes and you know even asking your doctor about bad outcomes and what the approach will be is a valid question.

Ask how long you would be in the hospital?
Ask what type of blood thinners you would be on afterwards? Stomach injections or pills
Ask if you will need to go to Rehab ?
Ask how many months of pain you should expect?
Ask about RSD and nerve damage? and long term pain management?  Ask about the worse case that can happen? Ask about his infection rate? Ask about the hospital infection rate?
Ask about the implant?  How will it be installed MIS? Quad Cut ? Will he use a computer to help his carpentry work out?   Ask about the cement?  Ask about cementless?   Ask about revisions? Ask how he saves bone?
Ask about PT? Ask how long it takes for you to be strong enough to drive?  Ask how you should get someone in your family around to help you ?  Ask about time off work? Ask about blood donation?
Will you get stapled?  Will you get glued?  How long will you need a walker?  Will you need surgical compression stockings?  Ask about getting a raised toilet seat? Ask about how long after the surgery will he give you an Xray to check on the implant?   Ask about doplar for DVT?

Ask about Pre medical admittance into the hospital? Ask about Medical Clearance from your General doctor?

Ask to hold an implant?  Ask to see the cuts they will make?  Understand what you are getting into.


Good luck.  Ask any questions you might have
It is your time to ask away..

[bad_knee@33]

Hi,
Its bad_knee@33 again, the original poster.

I appreciate the comments and advice. This Monday, I will see Dr. Cyran at UCLA in Santa Monica, CA.
I am going to bring pages of questions and will be happy to share the experience and the answers I receive.

Another thing that I'm looking into is helping or contributing to any research that is going on with TKRs on people around my age- 33. You would think that there must be studies with this emphasis. If anyone knows how to go about participating with research let me know. I'd really like to help other people my age make sound decisions based on evidence from people who have gone through it at the same age.

Thanks again,
Jen

[bad_knee@33]

I had the appt today with Dr. Cyran at UCLA..

I was advised again to wait on the TKR and to go see Dr. Bugbee at UCSD. He's been working on cartilage transplants from cadavers. Here is a link for more info.:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6SzWsnr_CU

[JAYHAWK]

In total agreement with prior comments....do the research and ask the questions.  I literally spent hours and hours on due diligence for the knee arthroplasty and the doctor.  I am in Houston and narrowed the list to eight doctors who only do replacements (I have a sports medicine doctor/friend but he does not do replacements)...two of which were not covered by my insurance...and met with three prior to my decision to have the surgery.  A key factor was there experience in the procedure (all three did over 500 knee arthroplasties per year).  I even researched the specific manufacturers of the knee prothesis.  If the doctor practices at an orthpaedic hospital what are the contigences for complications....is there a cardiologist on standby.

[L. Thomas.net]

I checked out the hospital first.  I wanted one that had high evaluations ratings, a joint replacement center, low patient/ nures ratio, low employee turn over rate, and low staph rate.  I wanted a fellowship trained OS who did LOTS of TKA's.  I have a number of questions that I asked on my post-op diary.

[schoust]

  Hello Guy's and Gal's. I am new here and I would like to chime in and tell you what my experience so far has been. I am from Ct. and have had a lot of problems for the last 24yr's and finally have given in to the fact that my knee is completely worn out and will need a replacement. What I did was simply look for the Hospital that performed this type of surgery the most and the surgeon that I choose a someone that had a very good track record and was well versed in MIS TKR. I also looked a the number's. The Hospital I chose statistically was close to number one in all of the categories that are important to what I feel would end in a good out come. I will be going into surgery on this Thursday,yes I am nervouse but I am also very cripple and in desperate need....

[Plumb]

Good luck with the operation.   The before pain..   will be gone sooner than you think..

[L. Thomas.net]

Sounds like we had some of the same criteria for TKA.  Even with all the research and stuff...things will happen.  I don't think there is a "textbook" TKA..Everyone has some quirks of some sort...And I had about the best surgery and recovery I know about.  I have had absolutely great recovery and now have about 150 ROM.

Remember this is a good place to find support.  I have tried to keep my post-op diary up to date. Be sure to start one on the post op diary board.  It has been very helpful to have it as a reference.  There are lots of readers that don't post and it is helpful to them as well.

I don't think you will need luck because you are ready.  Rest well and Post soon.

WORDS TO THE WISE

[/b]

Anticipate that you will have pain.
Take all meds given when you can (ie..every 4-6 hours as needed...take it every 4 hours)
Don't let the pain get ahead of you
Work as hard as you can in PT (take pain med 30 mins before)
Rest and Ice ICE ICE ICE

Get an elevated toilet seat
Use walker not crutches

My #1 "must have" CRYOTHERAPY UNIT
If you don't get a cryotherapy unit when you have the surgery GET ONE...I prefer Breg because it has a a warranty. It is the best money you can spend.  Beg Borrow or Steal one

[schoust]

  Thanks for all the suggestions but I think I am one of those people that is ahead of this curve and the reason I say is I have been through so much with this leg that I simply can not imagine anything worse! It took three years eight operations three casts skin grafts external fixation to the tune of 12 pins through my lower leg an artery that was crushed an ankle fusion two inches of tibia that were pulverised so I am short by a couple and last but not least a fibula tha is badly broken to this day. Heck who needs a fibula?? It's only for balance right? Honestly I am ready but I am nervouse! As we chat I sit here evaluated with my Cryocuff and hope and pray that all will be well? But if things get rough I will be ready! I still remember my PT sitting on my leg and saying if you do not do this you will never get your ROM back! Well I ended up with some but I want more! Sorry....Ralph

[L. Thomas.net]

We are having "chat" on different threads.  At this rate you will have your 20 post in no time.  We have several roosters that "lurk" in the henhouse and one rooster that rules the roost..he's brave einough to post.

[schoust]

  Yea thats me! When I find an ear that will listen I tend to get a case of you know what of the mouth! It is very theriputic to me! If I say to much just tell me to shut it!!