I've been doing my own research and this guy, Dr Franz is solid (I've never heard of him prior to Big D's post). His specialty is not only limb lengthening but also limb reconstruction which is a real tough subspecialty.
His hospital, Netcare Unitas, which is the largest private hospital in South Africa, has awards of excellence because of his work in external fixation and limb reconstruction.
Also, South African medical schools, their graduates, and their specialists are very much recognized in the Western World.
As for safety, the media portrays a high crime/murder rate in South Africa especially sensationalized after the Pistorius (Blade Runner) tragedy. But this has to be absorbed in a context. Brazil has high crime rate, Syria has civil war. Will I go to Brazil for tourism? Yes. But never to Syria. As a backpacker, I have to know what places that are off limits for me in another country (and sometimes, these places are off limits to the locals too). I have met Americans in backpacking trail who say they are more likely to be killed in their neighborhood than in the country we're traveling.
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Wherever you choose Big D, I will be following your diary very keenly, and will wish you all the best!
Quote from: Cooper on February 15, 2014, 04:16:26 PMAfter deep research on the net I found Dr. Travis J. Kemp MD (Ortho) who practices in Boise, Idahao was trained under Dr. Franz Birkholtz.
Dr. Franz is definitely leading doctors in external, what you guys think? Check out Dr. Kemp bio: http://kempmd.squarespace.com/dr-kemp/
Big D is Growing - PRECICE 2 Internal Femurs - Dr. Paley
Thanks guys for all your support!
Choosing my doctor has not been an easy decision. I've been grappling with many different doctors these past few weeks, weighing all the benefits and costs of each one and the different nails they use. I can technically afford any doctor, but this makes the deciding process so much more difficult.
- Birkholtz - His knowledge, ethics, and precaution is everything you need in a good LL doctor. He also offers PRECICE (with accommodations) at the most competitive price I've seen.
- Guichet - His patients can ride a bike the day after surgery, how can you compete with that?! This doctor is also at the top of my list for this reason, I would like to be able to work on my gait from the first day of lengthening, which is something the PRECICE does not allow for.
- Lee - Offers PRECICE and obviously has a lot of experience with CLL (even has a YouTube channel showing off his patients). I'll have to see what his updated prices at Severance Hospital are.
- Jamal - Looks to have a very personal connection with his patients and his prices are very low. Though, I've decided against going with him because he just doesn't have enough positive results.
- Paley - His results speak for himself, though his prices are very high. He's also located in the U.S. which is a bonus for me.
Coming to this decision is difficult, we're not talking about a new play-thing or a car, we're talking about the sake of my legs. Right now, I've narrowed it down to Birkholtz and Guichet. I'm afraid I might not meet Dr. Guichet's pre-requisites of training (and I'm not interested in training at the Isokinetic center before my surgery) so that may rule him out right off the bat. We'll see when he responds to my email.
Dr. Paley is a good choice as well, but Dr. Birkholtz appeals to me more with his own personality and cautionary attitude. I've grouped them together because they both offer the same nail. For this reason, I don't think Paley is the most viable option for me.
The PRECICE 2 has been having troubles in some threads on old forum and this has really turned me off to it. I don't want an additional surgery due to pre-consolidation (and for 2 people to have this problem is quite concerning). I understand speeding up the rate of consolidation is the way to counteract this problem, so hopefully Dr. Birkholtz will be keeping a very close eye on our rate of consolidation through x-rays.
God damn, I haven't even had LL yet but I'm grinding my teeth already!
Quote from: BilateralDamage on February 17, 2014, 09:42:12 PM(and for 2 people to have this problem is quite concerning).
Amatan and who is the other?
Quote from: kusop on February 17, 2014, 09:52:09 PMAmatan and who is the other?
Wolverine on old forum . It's interesting to note that they're both under Lee's care in South Korea.
Quote from: BilateralDamage on February 17, 2014, 09:54:59 PMWolverine on old forum . It's interesting to note that they're both under Lee's care in South Korea.
I see. Fortunately for them Dr.Lees surgery price covers complications.
He said he has consolidated already and for surgery. 2nd surgery is over?
My old forum access is down again.
Quote from: kusop on February 17, 2014, 09:52:09 PMAmatan and who is the other?
Are you going for 6.5cm under Dr Franz?
Quote from: BilateralDamage on February 17, 2014, 09:42:12 PMThanks guys for all your support!
Quote from: mediocre on February 17, 2014, 10:00:42 PMHe said he has consolidated already and for surgery. 2nd surgery is over?
My old forum access is down again.
since you dont have access.
quote from wolverine
Quote Ok, I just spoke with Dr. Lee and am sad to say there maybe a problem with the Precice 2. The results of my last x-ray showed my right leg had only lengthened 3 mm and the left 0. Dr. Lee has instructed me to speed up lengthening to 10 times each day and has prescribed an oral steroid for me to take twice a day to keep the bones from consolidating. It's fair to say I'm very upset about the news. The only thing I can think of is that there must be some sort of defect or mechanical problem with the Precice 2. Dr. Lee's assistant checked the x-ray and has remarked my femurs which were off by a few centimeters so maybe that will help but they say it doesn't really make that much difference . There are 3 patients here that are using the Precice 2. Two of which are doing femurs and 1 tibia patient. Of the 2 femur patients both are having almost the exact same problems. I feel like there's really not much I can do now except lengthen and wait for the inevitable result of my bones consolidating or having to go through another surgery. Dr. Lee said he's treated about 30 patients with the Precice nail and none experienced any of the problems we are with the nail lengthening. Yet the Precice 1 and the Precice 2 are suppose to have the exact same mechanics. So what could the problem be? As of now things are definitely not looking well for me at all. There's really nothing else to say
Thanks kusop but I meant Amatan who's scheduled for 2nd surgery due to consolidation and unequal lengthening.
I've asked Dr Franz about this Precice 2 discrepancy on his (Dr Franz) thread.
I asked the question, with Amatan and Wolverine in mind.
It's interesting what's the response of Dr Donghoon Lee from this development?
Quote from: kusop on February 17, 2014, 10:06:45 PMsince you dont have access.
quote from wolverine
Quote from: mediocre on February 17, 2014, 10:15:33 PMThanks kusop but I meant Amatan who's scheduled for 2nd surgery due to consolidation and unequal lengthening.
I've asked Dr Franz about this Precice 2 discrepancy on his (Dr Franz) thread.
I asked the question, with Amanan and Wolverine in mind.
It's interesting what's the response of Dr Donghoon Lee from this development?
oh.. amatans had his surgery to rebreak the osteonomy site. He also wrote that his leg is now lengthening again but hes knee has swollen and its severely numb to the point he's afraid he wont walk again. He regretted LL.
I believe he is just freaking out or having some kind of mood swing.
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