It is with pleasure that I write this letter to praise the magic hands of Dr. Demetracopoulos who performed the very difficult operation of replacing my ankle. Ten months after my operation, I have full use of my leg and foot, which both feel brand new.
To put things in perspective, allow me to describe my situation and how I came about to consider an ankle replacement surgery – a non-trivial operation as we all know. In my early twenties I broke both legs skiing, and later in my fifties, I developed post-traumatic osteoarthritis in both ankles. Last year the right ankle, which was most problematic, reached its walking limits. In addition, I developed pulled Achilles tendonitis which made walking extremely painful, difficult, and impossible.
I was directed by my doctor friends to HSS as the only place which specializes in this kind of specialized operation. This is something that I would recommend to anyone who is considering this type of operation, as this is what they do, and as a result, there is a lot of accumulated knowledge, experience and expertise. After extensive search for a surgeon at HSS to use for the surgery, one name stood out, either because many of my doctors knew of him, or because patients who had surgery performed by him were extremely happy with the results. It was Dr. Demetracopoulos.
In the pre-surgery sessions, he calmly explained to me the process, what will be needed after the operation, the duration of post-recovery process and its stages, and the expected results. He did all of the above in a very professional, easygoing manner which projected quiet confidence which made me feel assured of a successful outcome, and preparing me psychologically for the operation.
Dr. Demetracopoulos performed the surgery on March 27, 2024 and I choose to stay at the hospital for two nights until my hired caregiver was available. After that, all my post-surgery recovery took place at my home with the help of the caretaker who stayed with me for two months, before I returned to Athens and resumed my physiotherapy there.
The surgery and the recovery went as scheduled without pain and no complications whatsoever. I even stopped taking pain medicine after the first week. Instead, I would take an extra strength acetaminophen for the remaining recovery if and when needed.
Staying in bed the first month with very little walking is hard to do, hence the need for a good caretaker. In my case, I was blessed with an excellent caretaker who was with me 24/7, and a good network of family and friends which proved essential in assisting me when needed and/or enabling me to socialize while home bound.
Dr. Demetracopoulos and his HSS team were wonderful and the results were amazing. I am so pleased beyond description. Nine months later, I have ZERO arthritic pain on my right ankle. I walk freely, my foot looks 10 times better, and have not taken any pain relievers since the surgery and the post-recovery. Given that the full recovery is 12-months and I am now three-quarters into it, I have full mobility. I can easily walk one mile or thereabout, without pain, something that was unthinkable before.
I am extremely pleased with the outcome for such a complicated operation, and wanted to share my experience with all those who are considering this demanding operation. If I can sum it up, I would say go to the specialists – that is, people whose expertise is in this type of operation. And among those who specialize in this area, I would definitely recommend choosing Dr. Demetracopoulos for his specialty and demeanor as well as his soothing, soft personality which projects confidence and assurance. I highly recommend him.
Arthritis
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