Re: Help with Arthroplasty Questions - Terry

[Guest guest]

Hi Terry,

Sorry it has taken me so long to weigh back in here. Things have

been pretty hectic for me lately, but here is my take on your

postings on the subject of your joint surgery.

I have not had open joint surgery yet and just got the news on

Wednesday that I do not need it within the foreseeable future. Lots

of the things from your MRI report ring some bells with what my own

recent MRI revealed, but don't let all the doctor's insane medical

jargon add to your level of anxiety. I have found that doctors seem

reluctant to actually go over the specific findings of an MRI - they

seem to prefer to generalize things, which isn't what is necessarily

right for each patient. I have a feeling you're a lot like me in

that the more you know, the more you feel you can prepare yourself

for what is to come. There are others who approach a situation like

orthognathic surgery as not wanting to know much of anything and

putting it totally into the doctor's hands. Neither way is wrong or

right, but there is a point at which people with either approach

need to give it over to the doctor.

But I digress... when my doc and I first discussed open joint

surgery, he assured me that it recovery from it would be easier than

from the orthognathic surgery. Since I haven't had open joint

surgery, my experience with it is only based on my own research.

Obviously is the best board member to discuss the actual

experience of open joint surgery with.

I think it is 200% important to feel absolute comfort with your

surgeon. I love my oral surgeon, but since being under his care,

I've had the experience of dealing with another surgeon on an issue

not related to TMJ treatment. I didn't like the guy the first time

I met him, and it only went downhill from there. I now refer to

that doctor as a masochistic Nazi. My OS, on the other hand, treats

me as both a patient and a person. He's put up with a ton of

questions from me in the three plus years I've been a patient of

his, but has never been anything other than totally willing to work

with me and allow me to do what I needed to do to prepare for my

surgery.

As for why not to do the open joint surgery at the same time as the

orthognathic surgery, I think hit that nail on the head.

Surgery on the joints can change the bite, which would probably

increase the chances for orthognathic surgery to be less successful.

Hang in there and keep asking all the questions you need to,

especially of your doctor. You are a patient AND a customer.

> > > Hi everyone,

> > > I was hoping someone from this group might be able to answer

> > some

> > > of my questions. I'm having Arthroplasty performed this

summer

> > > before my orthognathic surgery. I'm quite worried and

stressed

> > out

> > > about this. By nature, I'm just an overanxious type of person

> and

> > > really need to understand a procedure 100% before I begin to

> feel

> > > slightly comfortable.

> > >

> > > One of my main concerns is reoccurrence. Does anyone know if

> this

> > > type of joint disorder (anterior disc displacement) reoccurs

> after

> > > arthroplasty is performed? And if the right side is having a

> > > problem right now, does that indicate that the right side will

> > > eventually go down that road as well?

> > >

> > > As for nerve damage, does anyone know the name of the nerve

that

> > > runs along the area that the surgery is performed?

> > >

> > > Lastly, has anyone had this procedure done at Emory University

> and

> > > heard of Dr. Perciaccante? What is your opinion about his

> > abilities

> > > and bed side manner?

> > >

> > >

> > > Thanks so much for anyone that can offer some help or advice,

> > > ~Terry