Matthew Willing

I had a (bilateral) double knee replacement back in 2005 and had both knees replaced at the same time. They held up well for 10 years and was able to do normal physical activity. The surgery itself was extremely painful and had taken me close to a year to recover from. In the middle of October 2014, I felt water on my right knee. Have no idea that this condition is a bad sign for a knee replacement, I visited my local orthopedic surgeon. He took x-rays and told me that having fluid on a knee replacement is a very bad sign. I was told that it could be anything from infection to the loosening of the joint. I made an appointment for an MRI the following morning, So by the next morning, Friday afternoon, I was told that the joint was in fact loosened, the radiologist notified my orthopedic surgeon on Long Island. I was told to make an appointment to have the fluid checked for infection by my local laboratory. Having been made aware of the efficiency of Hospital for Special Surgery and knowing that the radiologist who did my MRI did his fellowship at the HSS, I asked him to recommend someone at the HSS that could handle my condition. He recommended Dr. Della Valle. I called him Friday afternoon after receiving my results, and he made an appointment for me for that Monday. His staff could not have been any more compassionate and understanding to my situation. When I got to talk to Dr. Della Valle's office and spoke to him for the 1st time, he was honest, direct and compassionate. I informed him that I was disabled veteran who had been through many operations as well as 3 joint replacements, which included my left shoulder and both knees. After over 14 surgeries since 1974 and how traumatized I was after all this medical treatment, he did his best to put me at ease despite my PTSD due to all the pain and suffering experienced over the last 40 years since my initial injury that put me in an Army Hospital for 6 months during the Vietnam era. He told me how extensive the knee revision would be and told me to expect the same type of pain I experienced when I had both knees replaced at the same time. He assured me that he would do everything possible to make it as comfortable and pain free as possible. On October 22, 2014 I was admitted for surgery. When I woke up in recovery, much to my surprise, I was surrounded by a team of caring and capable professionals. My pain was minimal and was directed to use the pump in my hand any time I felt I needed it. I was shocked at the lack of pain I felt. I was then brought to my room, which I can only say resembled that of a five-star hotel with a beautiful view. I was constantly being monitored by all kinds of healthcare professionals, from nurses to doctors, pain management physicians as well as physical therapists. I never once had to bring my buzzer for anything over the next 9 days. I was kept out of pain except for minor discomfort. The staff was nothing like I had ever witnessed before in any of the many hospitals I've been to. Whenever I asked for something, it already been taken care of. Before I ever got a chance to ask for any pain medication, there was a nurse in my room asking me my pain level, then giving me the dosage I needed. After receiving physical therapy in the hospital, I was sent home in 9 days. I received phone calls daily from the staff checking on my progress or if there was anything I needed. After about 4 weeks of home care (physical therapy and blood tests for my Coumadin levels), I was able to see a physical therapist on the outside as long as someone could drive me. Within 100 days after surgery I was released from physical therapy. By then I was off painkillers and was shoveling snow as well as using a snowblower. After 120 days I saw Dr. Della Valle for the 2nd time since my surgery. He was elated with my progress and told me I could go back to my life as it had been before the revision had taken place. After 120 days, I am playing golf, doing water aerobics at the veterans hospital, and often forget which knee has been operated on. I walk through the grocery stores such as Costco and feel no pain and discomfort or limitations on the amount of time or distance I can walk. I no longer fear the surgeries I will be going through in the future as long as they are at Hospital for Special Surgery. I cannot say enough or possibly explain what a positive experience this has been. I went from sheer terror to complete confidence in the care provided by Dr. Della Valle, the staff at Hospital for Special Surgery as well as the hospital itself. I am looking forward to a life with a minimal amount of pain, rather than the horror and fear of my upcoming surgeries. I cannot express the gratitude enough to all the people involved in my recovery. At 59 years old, I feel as though my life has been given back to me and I look forward to an active future rather than a life of pain.