Dr. Seth Jerabek and HSS gave me back my life! Dr. Jerabek is a miracle worker whom I would recommend to anyone! He is professional, kind and knowledgeable! I knew exactly what to expect every step of the way. My case was not your normal everyday situation. I had already had two botched right total hip replacements in a three year period, and was coming to HSS with an infection in the second hip revision! Considering Dr. Jerabek was not the surgeon who did the original hip replacements, he certainly had every right to refuse operating on me knowing that my case would be complicated, however, thank God, he did not turn me away! He actually operated on me the night before he was leaving on vacation, long after his normal operating hours! He also checked on me the following morning before leaving to celebrate his daughters 5th birthday at Disney World! That is what I call a dedicated surgeon and a fantastic human being!
As for the Hospital for Special Surgery, I cannot say enough wonderful things about the people who work there and the care I received! From the doctors who checked up on me to the nurses who cared for me. From the Physical Therapist who tried to get me back on my feet. To the custodians who cleaned my room and to the food servers who brought my delicious meals. Each and every one was a part of my successful recovery! Not to mention the beautiful view of the East River I had from my room!!
My story began in January 2010 when I had a right total hip replacement. My hip never felt right after that operation and it continued to get worse over time. I complained to my surgeon who told me my X-rays were fine and if I was in pain to take some Percocet and use a cane! Needless to say I changed doctors!
My second doctor was great and he tried very hard to figure out what was causing my pain. At first he thought it was an infection, however, after many tests (two hip aspirations, blood tests, X-rays, MRIs...), which all came back negative, he was still stumped! Next he sent me to a pain management doctor, who gave me numerous epidural shots in my back. This helped to relieve some of the pain, but not much. He then sent me to a neurologist who did a pelvic MRI and he found a pseudo-tumor in the pelvic area and sent me back to my orthopedic surgeon. At this point Dr. D, again, thought it was an infection and scheduled me for surgery in July of 2011. It ended up that the first hip was defective and he had to do a complete hip revision. Unfortunately, I still had a lot of pain with this second hip and went back to PT and Pain Management. The hip continued to hurt me. My job was in jeopardy and I felt I was living on Percocet. If something was not done soon I would end up in The Betty Ford Clinic with no job! Then during a session with my Chiropractor, he noticed that my hip area was red and hot, and there was also a lump. He suggested I return to my surgeon, which I did. Dr. D sent me to HSS for an MRI and when the results came back it showed a long sausage-like growth extending from the prosthetic hip through my thigh. At this point, Dr. D suggested that I see Dr. Seth Jerabek at HSS who he felt would be the best person to deal with this situation. I will always be thankful to Dr. D for sending me to Dr. Jerabek and HSS!!!
Trying to get an appointment with Dr. Jerabek was difficult because he was so busy and was due to go on vacation. Thanks to his office manager, Violyves Sanso, I managed to get an appointment that week. I loved Dr. Jerabek from the moment I met him. He had never seen anything like the growth in my leg before, and after a few tests he diagnosed that my hip was surely infected. The problem was finding a time to schedule me in for an operation because it needed to be done immediately and it promised to be a long and involved one. Again, thanks to Vi’s ability to rearrange his schedule I was scheduled for surgery at 4:00 on 2/25/2014, only four weeks after the lump on my thigh was first discovered.
The surgery went well, but he had to remove my hip completely and put a spacer filled with antibiotics in its place. I spent the next eight weeks in a rehab facility in CT with no hip! I returned on 5/15/2014 to HSS to have my third, and hopefully my last, hip revision! This operation was long and complicated. The infection had eaten away at my pelvic bone and destroyed the iliopsoas and abductor muscles on either side of my hip. Dr. Jerabek replaced my hip with parts from three different hip manufactures, and actually rebuilt my pelvic and femoral bones with Tantalum due to the deterioration from the infection and the original damage done by the first defective hip. I went back to the rehab facility for another six weeks, was on a walker and crutches for the next two months and later used a cane. Each time I went in to see Dr. Jerabek he would look at the X-rays and tell me we were not out of the woods yet, but we were getting closer to the tree line. He always had a professional manner and a positive and reassuring attitude toward my recovery.
Dr. Jerabek is amazing! He did something I don't think any other doctor could have done. After four years of extreme pain, numerous doctors (two orthopedic surgeons, two neurologists, two pain doctors) telling me that they had no idea what was wrong with me, four years of physical therapy, four years not being able to perform my job properly ... I was certain I would never be able to lead a normal life again. Finally, I went to HSS and met Dr. Jerabek literally gave me my life back! I still use a cane occasionally, when my leg bothers me, but I am back at work as a teacher of the deaf who travels from school to school and can actually enjoy being with my family and friends doing everyday activities with little or NO PAIN! I can't begin to tell you how that feels!
Thank you Dr. Seth Jerabek and everyone at HSS for performing miracles and letting me live a normal, active life once again!
All by Physician