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Tomaino Arm Care Network

Dr. Tomaino's Blog

Treat your arm like its your roof

October 2nd, 2011
Was listening to the WHAM radio Home repair clinic this morning, when a caller was advised to get 3 estimates before he hired someone to put a new roof on his house. Makes sense--afterall, as the experts agreed, the new roof may cost as much as $10,000 and be in place for 20 years!!


Now let's switch to your ARM CARE.

Would'nt you think the same advice may apply--just substitute "opinion" for "estimate"?
In fact, this infrequently happens---and most of the time it's probably inconsequential. But when it comes to a decision to proceed with elective surgery, it probably makes great sense.
Nowadays there are so many decision points including what surgery is going to be performed, what's the success rate, what are the complications, how do you (the surgeon) do it, are your past patients satisfied with their result, are the newest techniques being used, and if not, why........and the list goes on.


This week I learned from a patient that her husband is having an open acromioplasty for shoulder Impingement Syndrome--and being kept in the hospital for a 23 hour stay in anticipation of postoperative pain. I found this interesting since this is not only a more costly approach, but a more painful, and largely abandoned technique. This surgery can be performed in less than 30 minutes, arthroscopically, under a regional anesthesia that will keep the arm pain-free for up to 8-10 hours, allowing discharge from a surgery center an hour after the procedure.


Caveat Emptor applies to your health care purchases too! Forums such as that provided on www.rearmyourself.com are a great venue for gathering anwers to your questions. Social networking is being introduced into health care increasingly to allow valuable communication beyond what takes place face to face during your office encounter.

*POST EDITED BY DR. TOMAINO.

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