After spending all summer painfully recovering from
knee surgury, this a.m. my surgeon armed with my
latest MRI said, "Oops! We need a “Do-Over”! It
didn’t work. He went on to say that this was a first
for him as he’d never had a failure before. I had to
respond that so far I was batting 1,000, as I had
NEVER had a successful knee surgury and said you know
who my surgeon is.G Do-over is two weeks from
today when he returns from vacation. That is if my
insurance will pay for the same knee again. Trying
to find the humor in the situation but it’s really
well hidden.G Warm regards, Jim
Jim,
That is lousy news and I can just imagine how you must feel about it! The first question that came to my mind was why does anyone have to pay for the second operation if the first was not done correctly? One would think that the surgeon should do the second operation for free since he did not do it right the first time. It just does not seem fair to me. The surgeon drops this bomb shell on you and then tells you they are going on vacation. I assume to spend the money from the first surgery that they screwed up! I’m sorry. I know I am not helping you to keep your chin up through all of this, but, it just burns me. I will pray for you on the second surgery.
What kind of warrenty do they offer?
My father went through the same thing, I feel for ya.
Jim,
I’m sorry to hear the bad news. If you don’t feel right about this Doc then possibly get a second opinion.
Take Care,
Doug :evil: 
The last time I asked for a second opinion, the doc said, “Ok, yer ugly, too”!
Jim;
Buddy, that is not good news and I side with Warren!!
“Oops!” is not an acceptable response!! “Never had a failure before” is also not acceptable!!
Sorry Jim but I find little humor in your situation either. God Bless my friend and may everything turn out ok.
Do the Pirates need to have a discussion with your surgeon? We’ll be gentle!
A few days back, the 13th to be exact (it matters) I had spent a rather difficult day in Seattle, involving a decision not to bust a absolute jerk (wife’s new medical specialist) in the chops, walk out of the room and thus avoid a nasty lawsuit. Several things that day had gone down hill including, and please do not take any offense here, damn near getting tripped by a blind guy. I was at the loading area for one of the ferry’s we take to get back on this side of the water. I was passing through a doorway into a large room when this chap (on my right side, but in the room I was going into) pokes his red tipped white cane out in front of himself. My problem was, the only thing that came into view was the cane down at floor level. Talk about a tripping hazard! But, I put my ‘brakes’ on, almost toppled forward, but not quit and he never knew it happened. Later that day I got a phone call from a guy explaining that he just got banned from the chat room and wondered why… he hadn’t said anything.
Now, let me see, what were you saying, something about a knee?
LOL JC! Probably what he’d tell me too.
As soon as I got home, I called and made an
appointment to see my primary doctor this Thursday.
I want to get a checkup due to the stress and the
pain meds I’ve been on since surgury. Also, I have
a lot of confidence in him and would respect his
thoughts on seeing a second surgeon or whatever.
It’s just such a dissapointment to be starting all
over after thinking we were nearly done.G As far
as warrantee on surgury, I think it’s similar to a
used car warrantee. It covers you all the way to
the edge of the car lot. Once back on public streets, it’s all yours.G Warm regards, Jim
Actually, Jim, many years ago I had surgery on my right elbow (thirteen stitches) tennis elbow actually. Well, the thing got infected, hurt like crap, had to have the cast taken off, cleaned out and covered back up. Recovery took much longer than it would have if that had not happened.
Yes, it hurt and for a much longer time than it should have. But!
I convinced them that ‘therapy’ could be a ‘fly rod casting’ motion. They bought it. I spent quite a few months on the Au Sable river ‘healing.’
Good luck my friend… 
Jim, your luck is like mine, non-existent 
. So I usually make my own luck 
. In this case its hard to make your own luck :shock:. Do you think it was a case of malpractice? Oh well, look on the bright side, more time to tie flies. Get those creative juices flowing and come up with some more foamy wonders :). Seriously, get this thing done and heal up so you can go chase Shellcrackers.
Man that sure sucks! I like that idea of recovering on the Au sable though. Check out Lotec Joe Playing a fish while sitting in a metal chair on the Lochsa.
That should make recovery easier at least.
:lol: JC, Was that “tennis”, or “casting” elbow?
Well, actually was diagnosed as “Tennis Elbow.” Not tendonites either, whatever that is. It was caused by a repetitive move I had at a job I had at General Motors. It made my right arm very strong, then it went to the point I could not lift a cup of coffee. The arm just refused to obey the command. Surgery was the only fix. Yes, they tried cortisone. Other than hurting like the dickens it had no effect.
Here is something I never understood. When I worked on cars if I messed up the re-do was at my expense. Why is this different with doctors???
jed
My wife and I each have had some ‘re-do’ work done this past year. No charge.
Hope they get it right, I know you do. I’v been having a little trouble with my knee, i want them to get it right b-4 I have to get mine done…
Really I hope it goes well for you this time and it’s better than new. I know its costing you alot of down time, and for an active person that enjoys life such as yourself, it’s gotta be frustrating. I’ll add an extra prayer for you.
Tim
Jim, does the Dr. fish? If he does just say the word and I’ll send a large package of VFR his way. If he doesn’t I’ll send the mutated version that affects computer servers, either way I won’t charge you for the order.
“If it weren’t for bad luck I’d have no luck at all”
PS. A second opinion would not be a bad idea.
Jim -
Sorry to hear that you will have to go through that again - it’s bad enough to have just one round…
My cousin is an orthopedic surgeon. He was in his early 30s when he finished school. He commented he learned 2 really important things: (1) the head of the class is called “Valedictorian”, the very last person to graduate is called “Doctor” and (2) it’s not a coincidence when they leave school Drs go into a “Practice”.
That being said, I spent much more time last year with Drs than fishing. I did learn that YOU have to be in charge of your healthcare. There are lots of capable people around - find one that’s competent and one you can be comfortable with.
I wouldn’t go back to a car mechanic that botched a repair - I likely wouldn’t trust any Dr that needed a second chance either…
Best Wishes for a successful and rapid healing.
MNFisher,
That last statement is RIGHT ON! Doctors are not Gods to be worshiped and obeyed. We are in charge of our health. A lot of people think that a Doctor’s words are gospel. I have learned that Pharmicists know more about meds and their side effects than a lot of Doctors do.
You have to find the RIGHT Doctor.
Doug
J.C. Did you charge your doctor for fly fishing lessons? I seem to remember a post some time back about a trade off?