Lucy Ostermann

I cannot begin to write enough words of thanks and praise for Dr. John MacGillivray. I came to him, after two other orthopedic consults, with a large tear in my rotator cuff along with a torn bicep. At our first meeting, Dr MacGillivary was kind, knowledgeable, patient and confident that if I had my surgery with him, that I would regain use of my right shoulder. He did mention that I had to have the surgery and that I would not be able to live with my shoulder in the shape it was in. I was a nervous wreck and was terrified because so many people, including doctors, kept telling me how difficult the recovery from rotator cuff surgery would be. I mentioned this to Dr. MacGillivary that I was scared to death to have the surgery because of the anticipated pain and recovery. He explained that I would have minimal pain and that the recovery, even though I had to wear a brace, would not be that difficult. I asked him if he would prescribe painkillers. He said, "You really won't need them but I'll prescribe them - acetaminophen and ibuprofen should manage the discomfort." I had no choice but to have the surgery done. Now on to Veronica Moran, a member of his office staff. I called this woman several times to explain how nervous I was. She patiently talked me off the ledge each time and assured me that I would be fine. She was a godsend to me. I had the surgery on 10/18/2022. I got home that same evening and my shoulder down to my hand were numb from the nerve block. By midnight I told my husband that I better take the pain meds because when the block wears off, I'll be in pain. I started to have feeling in my hand so I took the medication. However, there was hardly any discomfort when the pain meds wore off. It was exactly how Dr. MacGillivary described it would be. The recommended medications did the trick. My friends and family came to visit me the days following the surgery and expected to see me writhing in pain. Instead, they found me walking around the house with my arm in a brace, and talking to them as if nothing happened. They were amazed because of all the horror stories they heard about rotator cuff surgery. If anyone is hesitant about having this surgery, don't be - Dr. John MacGillivary is the doctor to choose. He is a remarkable surgeon and, today after going through physical therapy, I have full range of motion and I have him to thank for it.