I've read crimsontide's thread about tibia correction with dr Monegal and although the first days was anxious about the outcome of the surgery, on his last posts he said that his bones were corrected and he is doing much better than before.
Also, from the Xrays I saw in 2 recent Monegal's diaries (Auron and Helloworld I think) I don't see anything bad. Relatively good callus formation, straight femurs and generally speaking, nothing abnormal.
And after all, putting a nail in femurs is by no way something very hard for an experienced doctor so I can't see why some doctors like Guichet want some huge amounts of money while doctors like Monegal have more logical prices with even better nails (of course Fitbone is more advanced than Guichetnail).
I want to see more diaries from dr Monegal's patients to have a more clear opinion about him but from what I saw I think he is a good choice taking in mind his price and that his clinic is in Barcelona, one of the most advanced cities in Europe.
India, even if Parihar is a capable doctor (something I don't know because we've seen only one patient's diary from him) wouldn't be an option for me because it is a third world country with a very unhealthy environment and laws that don't protect patients from doctors faults.
I probably do tibias next summer, If a patient repeat with the same doctor, it is a the best trust in him. I think tibias are more dificult than femurs because the ankle has three axis movement and knee just two axis. Even Iamready with Paley needed a second surgery to improve the aligment
It seems that the main problems for some users is the fitbone, but Dr Monegal offered me fitbone or Precise. You can chose.
I would like to see a diary with a patient of Monegal and Precise.
Monegal has done much more internal lengthenings than Parihar. And Barcelona Is a much more advanced city than Mumbai . If i have to choose again i would go with Monegal. Tibia lengthening Is much more dificult than fémur lengthening. We could see that guichet doesnt do tibias and a very renowed doctor like paley have problems doing It. Like we have seen in iamready diary. If you do femurs with Monegal you may probably have a good outcome. Tibias Is not as safe as femurs and is more probably to have problems. For me if i do tibias in the future i Will try with internals or LON. I dont see external only as an option. But you have to aceppt that Its more probably to have more problems/surgeries and worst recovery doing tibias.
For those of you seriously considering Dr. Monegal over Dr. Parihar.
Click on the link and read through this info....http://www.limblengtheningforum.com/index.php?topic=2454.msg51176#msg51176
Quote from: Cooper on March 24, 2016, 09:19:47 PMUpdate:
I had very bad experience with Tibia lengthening. I made terrible mistake of doing tibia with Monegal. I probably went through worst ultimate nightmares. I usually write Dr. in front of him but he lost that honorary title long time ago. Ever since I came to US I had some nuisances about right tibia. It felt something did not go well. But I was giving benefit of doubt. I have been telling all LLers’ through private chat tibia should be easy and since this is one leg I should have much better experience than femur.
Late last year I went to see Dr. Rozbruch in New York to check on tibia. Immediately after reading x-ray he pointed out 3 major issues. 1) Provactum tibia bone curving 2) Fibula migrated up. When the monegal fixate tibia and fib bones he somehow pushed the fibula up and fixate. The angulation is not correct this is major issue out of three 3) low callous and possible non-union 4) lost nerve on feet about 25% (not major but had to fix). Dr. R advised to fixed all three and his assistant wrote a note which I forwarded monegal right away. I asked precisely to Dr. R what can be done with him. The answer was reverse everything and put external fixator for tibia and small monorail for tibia and lengthen. I was devastated to hear that!
I emailed monegal and hoped he can correct the issue. But he denied any of that need fix. Similar response to Crimson: ‘everything is fine' and keep lengthening to your desire 5.5cm. He also advised me not see any LL specialist. I told him ok. But I was not stupid. I knew by then I have major issues and I was only about 3.5cm. I keep lengthening and start looking for a solution to fix right leg and lengthen left leg. I was determined to get it done in US because I cannot take more chances.
The two US doctor I communicated:
1) Paley : first chastised me for going for inexperience doctor second the complication is major and will require more time and money to fix. His recommendation is take out the fitbone, put external fixator to not to loose the distraction gained, inserted non lengthening rod, lengthen fibula by 1cm, plated fibula, fixated tibia/fibula, bone grafted tibia and fibula for non-union, nerve decompression and put new non lengthening rod. He estimated about $100K for fix and left leg lengthening with precise.
2) Rozbruch: fist he did not want to help and asked me to go my first surgeon. I told him monegal is not capable of fixing and cannot be trusted. He said he will help. Cost about the same.
I also contacted few other doctors and everyone agreed on the three issues.
I picked one of the US doctor and currently in recovering. I am not disclosing anything yet and will let you know eventually.
Monegal Issues:
1) Dishonest: He did not disclose all the information and lied on patient count and his experience. He emailed he performed 600 bone segments. Come to find out I was third tibia patient. One of his patient told me in Spain everyone lies. His manipulates deliberately and black mailed his patient to write good things about him and defend him as often as necessary. You cannot trust this doctor and his patient specially from Spain!!!
2) Unethical: If you are not honest than you do not have ethics. Especially in this profession you want to go to doctor who respects patient rights, if something is not right than let the patient know and possible solution to fix. Just not to say everything will be ok. You need more time.
3) Poor Osteotomy: Most of his patient has issue with callous formation. Interesting part is all of the patient with few exceptions are lengthening less than 6cm. Still have poor bone formation. I have both fibula and tibia non-union and misalignment. Grafted both and I gained only 5.3com. I thought I did 6 but the x-ray show 5.3com.
4) Poor logistics: When I had my surgery I was in recovery room for long time. He could not find me and went home without meeting me in person. He later phoned me to say everything went ok. They forgot to put catheter and I did not pee for long time. I screamed and used profanity to get attention at the hospital. The epidural was not turned on and I was in pain for long time. Nursed blamed me tempering with epidural and told monegal I shut it off.
5) Pain management: I was in 10/10 pain level during first night. The worst pain of my life. Nurses and caretaker does not know how to manage pain. Their respond will be ‘that is normal’. On my last two surgery my pain level never went more than 2/3.
6) Fibula bone: For monegal fibula bone is not important and ok to have non-union. Even mentioned he can take fibula bone put some place else for bone lengthening while I was in Spain. Fibula is sort of extra bone put in reserve. Such a stupid comment coming from surgeon. His action is not to do anything regarding my fibula non-union.
7) Forum: He is using forum to fish new patient and anyone raised flag he tries to shut him off either by himself or through his patient. He gets mad to his patient if anyone writes bad thing and continuously monitor forum thread. He probably spends more time in forum than any of us out here.
His Patients: most of his patients are good people by heart. We all come from same height neurosis industry and wanting to get taller. I feel forum is fraternity to support each other. This doctor is exploiting forum to his advantage. We need to stop him. I am still in contact with few of them. They need him to fix the issue, correct whatever complication and have to oblige whatever he asks them to write. I would not be surprised if few of his patients come to this thread and try to defend him.
9) Complication: Almost all of his patient has some complications. Many of them cannot walk without crutches. Complications includes but not limited to premature fitbone fracture, fitbone malfunctions, loose screws, serious nerve issue, misalignment and unkown. Unknown are other complications which patient does not know because they have not seen other LL specialist.
Suggestion to Forum Moderator:
Ban monegal effective immediately and stop any patient going to him wherever possible. If I can save one life, leg or limb than I feel my diary has serve good for this community. Why let dishonest/crook surgeon come to forum and exploit the harmony of forum and most importantly destroyed people lives. I intentionally write ‘lives’ because it is not only one patient it’s the entire family involve.
The only reason anyone is still considering Dr. Monegal is because he offers a cheap price for internals. That's it! No other reason!
If he charged standard European prices then no one would consider him after all the negative information that has come out. Cooper is just one person of many who has told us to stay away from Dr. Monegal after experiencing horrific problems. It's all about saving a few thousand dollars by going to Dr. Monegal while risking your ability to walk and function normally for the rest of your life. As if any amount of money is worth that risk.
Quote from: Cooper on March 25, 2016, 01:43:00 AMYes only one patient did not complain. All the rest has some sort of issues. The part worries me is he does not recognize the mistake and fights really hard to make his point and he is right. Dr. Rozbruch is top surgeon and he thinks his recommendation has flaws and not necessary. Dr. Paley and other top Doctor all saw the issue with my right leg. For Monegal it was normal. He clearly have no idea or knowledge. He did not even recognize the issue. All he could say Is everything will be alright. Such a false hope on desperate time.
I took silical boost and vitamin d. Lengthen merely 5cm. And still non Union on tibia and fibula bone. Just did not get it. Callous formation is also heavily dependent upon surgeon technique of osteotomy.
I was within safe boundary, regular PT, vitamins and good diet still has major issues. Careful guys this is not joke. And please do lot of research. If you have any doubt regarding surgeon than do not do it.
Quote from: Cooper on March 25, 2016, 04:50:20 AMI made a mistake. I thought i could save about $50k going to Spain. He appeared experience, some LL patient on this forum and Spain is in Europe. He emailed nicely and explained in long email. I have some doubt but thought i should be OK and it's only one leg. Also thought European doctors and medical are equivalent to US. Dead wrong. In Spain everyone lies-- per one Spanish friend. With very successful surgery with Dr. Paley i thought i do not need to go top LL surgeon. Terrible mistake and worst decision of my life!
Quote from: Rod Thick on February 20, 2017, 02:53:57 PMCooper is just one person of many who has told us to stay away from Dr. Monegal after experiencing horrific problems.
That is a strong statement. So, who are these many patients that told us to stay away from Dr. Monegal besides Cooper?
So far, and judging by this thread alone, there're about 6 Monegal patients (current and old patients) giving positive feedback about Dr. Monegal and 0 Monegal patients giving bad feedback about Dr. Monegal.
Quote from: Auron on February 20, 2017, 03:32:44 PMSo far, and judging by this thread alone, there're about 6 Monegal patients (current and old patients) giving positive feedback about Dr. Monegal and 0 Monegal patients giving bad feedback about Dr. Monegal.
As i said Monegal is the best doctor if you want to sit in a wheelchair for good 3 years.
You know, so you can give some positive feedback afterwards.
Quote from: YourSpaceBoyfriend on February 20, 2017, 04:24:59 PMAs i said Monegal is the best doctor if you want to sit in a wheelchair for good 3 years.
You know, so you can give some positive feedback afterwards.
And what is the basis of your opinion? Have you done it with him before? Do you know have any proof?
Quote from: YourSpaceBoyfriend on February 20, 2017, 04:24:59 PMAs i said Monegal is the best doctor if you want to sit in a wheelchair for good 3 years.
You know, so you can give some positive feedback afterwards.
I am not trying to discount your claims but for every claim there needs to be proof. Based off the info from this threads, most Monegal patients seem to have high praise for him. Could he have messed up a person or two? Its very possible, just as any top doc can .
However, when making such a big claim we need evidence or proof in the form of multiple patients, xrays, pictures, video, etc. All these can be done while still remaining anonymous.
Quote from: Rod Thick on February 20, 2017, 02:53:57 PMThe only reason anyone is still considering Dr. Monegal is because he offers a cheap price for internals. That's it! No other reason!
If he charged standard European prices then no one would consider him after all the negative information that has come out. Cooper is just one person of many who has told us to stay away from Dr. Monegal after experiencing horrific problems. It's all about saving a few thousand dollars by going to Dr. Monegal while risking your ability to walk and function normally for the rest of your life. As if any amount of money is worth that risk.
Of course the price with Dr. Monegal is one of the attractive reasons to go with him; that's why this thread is called Dr. Parihar vs Dr. Monegal, and not Dr. Paley vs Dr. Monegal. Not everyone can be millionaires! Like everything else in life, there are pros and cons.
But there are many other reasons to go with Dr. Monegal over Dr. Parihar:
1. Experience with internal rods for LL is higher
2. Quality of surgical team, ICU, and hospital is higher
3. Recovery experience in Barcelona is better
All those criticising Dr. Monegal based on Cooper's comments are using hearsay, none of them have actually done LL with him, and are simply guilty of selective bias as they are ignoring all the good comments about Dr. Monegal.
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