Dr. Daniel Snyder seemed genuinely sorry for what happened in the course of my hip resurfacing surgery May 5, 2010, at Newton-Wellesley Hospital, Newton, Mass.
That makes two of us.
I sought surgery to fix an arthritic right hip which made me limp and seemed to aggravate an otherwise unrelated back problem. I had been an avid long-distance runner before all that, and I remained in athletic shape (and 45 years old) at the time of my surgery. I had hoped someday to return to cycling, hiking and cross-country skiing.
I awoke from surgery unable to feel or move my lower right leg. My leg was swollen and bruised, and an MRI was ordered up within hours.
Ultimately, Dr. Snyder and various neurologists and neurosurgeons concluded that Snyder must have injured my sciatic nerve near the site of the operation, most likely while retracting the flesh to get at the bone. Dr. Snyder acknowledged that it had been hard; he said he’d been obliged to use a great deal of force.
It was a tough break, everyone agreed, but apparently permanent nerve damage is a “known hazard†of hip resurfacing surgery, and some of the best malpractice lawyers in Boston have assured me it wasn’t sufficiently grave or negligent to warrant a lawsuit. Dr. Snyder claims it had never happened to any other of his patients, just me.
I wound up staying several extra nights in the hospital. Several of the muscles in my upper right leg were no longer working, and I had no muscle function or sensation below the knee. Nerve injuries are not only debilitating, but they can be extremely and unrelentingly painful. I could hardly walk, and couldn’t sit at all. I couldn’t drive, which is just as well, since I needed heavy medication.
A neurosurgeon opined that the nerve would probably heal on its own, but he offered to cut me open and have a look. I declined. After six months of daily physical therapy (and several months out of work), with tests showing no discernible improvement in nerve function, I reluctantly opted for nerve repair surgery with a doctor in Philadelphia in November 2010.
That seems to have gone well. My hamstrings and gluts have started to come back to life, and the nerve pain has diminished. I still require daily pain medication, but I’m off the narcotics. I can sit long enough to drive around town, though not long enough to take in a movie. I still can’t stand on my right leg without support, and I walk with a leg brace and cane. My hip still hurts, and I still walk with a limp. My lower leg has atrophied. I can’t move or feel my floppy right foot, and the neurosurgeons tell me it’s unlikely that it will ever fully recover. I hope to surprise them, but only time will tell.
Dr. Snyder wished me all the best, and said there is nothing more he could for me. I’m sure that’s true, medically speaking.
We so often hear about the evils of malpractice suits, and I would agree that there is at least as much room for improvement in our legal system as in the health care and insurance industries. I’d suggest, for instance, that along with caps on total damage awards(how much is any one life really worth, after all?), doctors be required to carry no-fault accident insurance, to cover more of their mistakes. With any other product or service, I’d at least get my money back.
Andrew
Quote from: Pat Walter on February 02, 2011, 07:32:35 PM
... unlikely that it will ever fully recover. I hope to surprise them ...
Andrew,
I am sorry to read your story. I do hope that with your persistence you continue to improve.
Dan
Good luck Andrew. Sorry to hear of your difficult experience. Given the determination that comes through in your post, I hope in time you might surprise even yourself with how much strength and function you can recover. Best.
HD
Good luck Andrew, sorry to hear you had such a hard experience, sounds like you are making a good comeback, my prayers are with you on a full recovery.
Andrew, sorry to hear this, hang in there and good luck.
moe
So sorry to hear your story, Andrew. I know everyone on this site will wish you all the very best for your recovery. You are clearly very determined and stoical which undoubtledly will help.
Good luck and keep smiling.
Andy
Just read about your plight today...I really feel for you. I hope things will improve for you, I know how you must feel losing so much of your livelihood.
I too had surgery with Dr Snyder in January 2007. But unlike you he never told me what he actually did to me during the surgery. He did the Ganz where you break the trocanter to proceed with the surgery. My VNA rehab nurse is the one who found out what he had done while she was working on me. We all know the risks of surgery, but all we ask for is honesty and truth, he did not give me that. And to this day, I had my 4 yr checkup, he doesn't know what to do or say to me, it is as if he just wants me to go away because things did not work out as planned. I want to know what my options are, I really don't want to live with pain every day and I will continue until I find the answers. If I need a revision fine, if I need to grin and bear it fine, but what is causing the pain, if you know tell me or find out.
I don't know about you, but at my 4 yr checkup, there was a huge line of patients going out the door waiting to see the doctors. I believe in quality, not quantity, and I am sure
that each person in line wants the same. And it is our duty to give both sides of the story.
Good Luck Andrew...never give up...there's always tomorrow
Hey Andrew,
How was your Christmas? Any new news on your life? You are not forgotten Buddy. I am doing well after having my LBHR with Dr. Marchand at South County Hospital in RI on 10/25/11. I am doing great, so we know this surgery is successful when done right. My RBHR is still not well, still fighting it with different exercises, stretches, etc;...I know it is there. But, I will keep plugging along...I hope you are doing the same.
Let us know what's up,
Rolls
Glad to hear you're doing well with Dr. Marchand, Rolls. Hope things work out better with the other hip.
Hi Andrew,
I was looking for someone that had a sharp pain on the outside of the hip resurfaced side and was surfing the web.
I was shocked to see your post! I had my hip resurfaced by the same Dr Snyder you did five years ago.
I have never had a day with-out pain since the surgery that wiped out my nerve. I have the the same results as you and the post you had written is like I wrote it. I will be happy to help you find some of the specialists that I found in Massachusetts. I can feel my big toe a little and barely anything under my knee.
A known hazard of H/R is having a nerve being wiped out, drop foot, not feeling your little toes, your foot getting cold, tripping (stitches in my head). The muscles from my hip to my toes have shrunk to 75% of the normal size.
The one piece of advice that I can give you is to work out/ ride a stationary bike because the invisible man will tackle you and you need to get up. Well after all that, Andrew I am a few years
ahead of you in this nightmare and here to help if I can. I do have a new Doctor after my last one retired a about a year ago. I had a Total hip replacement done 2 years ago and it is my strong side now. Be strong and I hope you see this.
Tom H
Good to hear your story Tom H. Now I wonder how close was I to getting nerve damage as well, and it might even be some of my problem all along. My 1 yr anniversary of my LBHR with Dr. Marchand RI was yesterday, and I hardly ever think about it, it is THAT GOOD. I still cannot run, due to my RBHR, pain, tightness, spasms and it now carries down to my knee and ankle. I am still going to write to Dr. Snyder and NWH, it is just that I am so busy with life in general and work. Imagine if I had pursued more questions and answers what may have become of our Dr Snyder. I wonder how wonderful his outcomes are now. Any more stories out there?
Rolls