Could you please recommend a Dr. in the STATES

Treatments, Rehabilitation, and Recovery
cbe411
Posts: 1393
Joined: Sun Jun 01, 2003 8:27 pm
Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: MVA in 2001, nerve graph in 2002, Median Nerve Transfer in 2004 and an unsuccessful Gracillis Muscle Transfer in 2006. I am living life and loving it! Feel free to contact me :)
Location: Grosse Pointe Woods, MI
Contact:

Re: Could you please recommend a Dr. in the STATES

Post by cbe411 »

Liz you have not upset me at all! I really think things are a bit different here than on the gen board. People tend to be a bit more open minded here than on the gen board! Thats for sure! I agree with you but I also do not think that he is given credit in some areas. Im not sure that you can ever find one doctor that everyone likes. People are quick to point bad things... I just wanted Shelly to know that there have been people that have been pleased with him, thats all.

RESEARCH RESEARCH RESEARCH!! Its the only way... we sure do agree on that one dont we!? hahaha

Love yout YANKEE daughter xx
jennyb
Posts: 1183
Joined: Fri Nov 02, 2001 5:24 pm
Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: January 1980 Yamaha RD200 vs 16 wheeler truck, result, 1 totally paralysed right arm. I was 21, now 54. I had no surgery, I don't regret this. Decided to totally ignore limitations (easily done aged 21) adapted very quickly to one handed life, got married, had 3 kids, worked- the effect of the injury on my life (once the pain stopped being constant) was minimal and now, aged 54, I very rarely even think of it, unless I bash it or it gets cold, then I wish I'd had it amputated :) Except for a steering knob on my car, I have no adaptations to help with life, mainly because I honestly don't think of myself as disabled and the only thing I can't do is peel potatoes, which is definitely a good thing.

Re: Could you please recommend a Dr. in the STATES

Post by jennyb »

The trouble is, how exactly can you research? Word of mouth is fine, but unless someone has the same degree of severity in their injury as whoever is recommending a doctor/procedure, it seems meaningless. Bedside manner is hardly what you care about when you have a limp, dangly arm and extreme pain. You can go online and find how many papers your chosen doctor has written about the surgery you need, but in the case of Dr Nath that won't help, he hasn't published anything for 6 years, and even before that he never published anything about tbpi surgery! He himself always makes the point that parents of birth injured children should ideally see a doctor whose main speciality is birth injured children, (I would agree) but then it must also be true that an adult with a trauma injury should ideally see a doctor who specialises in adults with trauma injury, which Dr Nath does not. He specialises mainly in birth injured children and sees a lot of them, the figures on his website bear that out.
I am sure he is a fine doctor, but there are others out there with significantly more experience with tbpi than him, especially in multiple avulsed cases, and I think we would be doing visitors and newbies here a disservice not to point that out. One guy found out AFTER the surgery that Dr Nath had never performed that particular procedure on an adult before. I would prefer my doctor had learnt all there was to know about tbpi BEFORE laying a hand on me.
When a doctor tells you he has experience with adult injuries, make sure it's trauma injuries, not adults with birth injuries, and ask them how many cases like yours they have seen, and whether you can get in touch with someone who has had success following the surgery. Get second or third opinions, too. And GOOD LUCK!
cbe411
Posts: 1393
Joined: Sun Jun 01, 2003 8:27 pm
Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: MVA in 2001, nerve graph in 2002, Median Nerve Transfer in 2004 and an unsuccessful Gracillis Muscle Transfer in 2006. I am living life and loving it! Feel free to contact me :)
Location: Grosse Pointe Woods, MI
Contact:

Re: Could you please recommend a Dr. in the STATES

Post by cbe411 »

"ask them how many cases like yours they have seen, and whether you can get in touch with someone who has had success following the surgery. Get second or third opinions, too"

Jenny you said it perfectly! This is a great way to do this! It doesnt matter who the doctor is! If they are willing to share and put you in contact with others, go for it, check it out.

Courtney
admin
Site Admin
Posts: 19873
Joined: Mon Nov 16, 2009 9:59 pm

Re: Could you please recommend a Dr. in the STATES

Post by admin »

While in our quest to find a bpi surgeon it was a little different with us. Some Drs. treat mostly obpi children ans some TBPI adults, our problem was choosing one to treat a TBPI child (13). It was tough but we tihnk we made the right decision. Almost everyone with a bpi has to travel pretty far to see a dr., at least thats what has been the cases Ive heard of. Its not an easy decision either way, but I would get more than 1 opinion and ask alot of questions. Search around here and youll find alot of good Drs. You can always e mail someone and ask something privately if you would like to.
spinkydee
Posts: 54
Joined: Sun Jan 01, 2006 10:46 pm

Re: Could you please recommend a Dr. in the STATES

Post by spinkydee »

my son recently had surgery by Dr Nath in Houston, TX. Even though it will be months to know if it was a sucess, I wouuld most definatly recommend him. He has an excellent reputation and has been doing these surgeries for many yesrs. He has been a strong advocate for my son.
admin
Site Admin
Posts: 19873
Joined: Mon Nov 16, 2009 9:59 pm

Re: Could you please recommend a Dr. in the STATES

Post by admin »

> Hi Everyone,
> I hope these lines find your pain levels down. I had
> a rough fall about 4 years ago. The first 2 years I
> was DX with a pinched nerve and a torn rotator cuff.
> My MRI said we can not rule out this tear or that
> one.
>
> I had shoulder surgery. But when the Dr. went in all
> he could find was 2 small bone spurs.
>
> This last year I was DX with a Right Brachial Plexus
> Stretch Injury , with nerve entrapment. I am having
> alot of circulation problems now. I have had to be
> off and on antibiotics for the last 2 years.
>
> I know I need surgery if you could recommend a
> competant Dr. I would appreciate it with all my
> heart.
>
> I have a HMO and they want to take a aggresive
> approach, with a T Vascular surgeon. So I am going to
> pay cash for surgery out of my plan. I will fly
> anywhere
>
> I have a son and I can barely take care of him at
> this point. I appreciate your wisdom with all my
> heart. Big Hugs To all of you, Roz
>

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