A Letter from a Patient and Some Advice When Choosing a Doctor
This month, I received a letter from a patient that just made me feel good. Most people have excellent outcomes after hip or knee replacement surgery, but it’s not every day that they write a letter to tell you about their experience. Nancy, a teacher from Westchester, wrote a letter thanking me and the staff at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) for “a most successful and amazing experience.” She had decided to have hip replacement due to intense pain that kept her up at night and made it difficult for her to do the job she loved. Nancy had tried physical therapy, but after 25 sessions and little pain relief, she thought it was time to make an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon. She said three previous joint replacement patients had recommended me, so she felt very comfortable making an appointment. She was also aware of the excellent reputation of Hospital for Special Surgery. Her x-rays, medical history and exam showed that advanced arthritis was causing her pain. She felt
