H.H. from Pennington, NJ

It has been exactly three months since my spinal surgery that you performed at Robert Wood Johnson in New Brunswick.

Words cannot express how grateful I am that I chose you to perform the surgery. I had been in almost constant pain since the onset of my back problems in 2003.  After months of injections in my hip, as well as physical therapy and spinal epidurals, all of which failed to relieve my pain, surgery was performed on my back in 2004.  The pain returned with even more intensity within a few short months. After more months of physical therapy and epidurals, a tri-level spinal fusion was performed in 2006.

I was forced to retire because I knew I would be unable to perform my teaching duties to my own standards of perfection. I had always been the type of teacher that was constantly in motion, walking around the classroom, crouching to help individual students, bend down to pick up any trash that I saw anywhere on campus, but I found that I could not stand for any length of time and even rising from a sitting position at my desk became quite difficult.

That was my condition when I moved to New Jersey just sixteen months ago. I was referred to you in the spring and I knew upon meeting you that you were not only an excellent and thorough surgeon with extremely high standards, but you were also a very caring person. Of all the surgeons I had seen in the prior three years, you were the only one who actually studied my films and my reports that had been requested before my appointments! You explained what you thought the problem was, but insisted I have a CT Scan for absolute proof.

When I came in again, you had already looked at the scan and confirmed that I had severe scoliosis that was progressing rapidly. I was surprised because I had never been told that I even had scoliosis! You showed me on the films where the prior fusion of 2006 had not been successful, that there was no new bone growth and the scoliosis was so aggressive that it was pushing the screws out of the rods that had been placed in my back for the prior fusion. My students probably thought I had a "few screws loose", but for once, it was true!

Your recommendation was that if I could withstand the pain, I should try to endure it for as long as possible, since the surgery would be very complicated and the recovery would be very long. You proved wrong the myth that any surgeon would perform surgery on a patient, whether he/she needed it or not! At the same time, though, you explained that my condition would not get any better, but, instead, would get worse. You further disproved the myth that orthopaedic surgeons are especially egotistical by recommending that I consult with other spinal surgeons, but warned me that I should make certain they were Fellows in Spinal Surgery with the expertise and experience to perform such a difficult surgery. As an aside, I will tell you that one surgeon I had been seeing about my back in Florida, upon finding out that I had consulted with another surgeon, told me he would refuse to perform my surgery and made very unprofessional comments about the other surgeon. Myth or no myth, he had an ego!

I consulted with two other spinal surgeons, one of whom gave the same diagnosis as you had and even recommended, like you, that I live with the pain, since the surgery would be a "complete overhaul" of my back, and it would essentially be a reconstruction. The other surgeon with whom I consulted admitted readily that he could not perform the surgery that was necessary because of the scoliosis.

My brother, a medical engineer, had seen the films of my spine and was quite concerned. He knew I had to have surgery, but he wanted me to have the best surgeon possible. After he talked to you, he called to tell me that you were definitely the one to do the surgery, as he was more than pleased with your diagnosis and your plan of action.

After much thought and prayer, as well as continual pain, I finally decided to have the surgery. You requested that my husband come to the pre-surgical conference at which time you explained in great detail exactly what you would do during the surgery. In fact, you gave us at least three different scenarios of what could happen, but which procedure you preferred and why. You used my films and even your own drawings to show us the various parts of the spine that would be affected. You explained that you would have another orthopaedic surgeon assisting you, as well as a vascular surgeon present during the first part of the surgery when I would be on my back as you made a frontal entry to remove all the hardware that had been placed during prior surgeries and to begin the process of the scoliosis correction. My body would then be turned for a posterior entry, a very delicate procedure in itself, and all new hardware would be put in place. You then explained all the possible complications that could arise, as you never completely know what you will encounter until you actually perform the surgery. And then there was the time factor. Since it was such a long surgery, I would be under general anesthesia for up to ten hours, a risk in itself, but also it is only natural that a surgeon would tire after such long and detailed concentration. Therefore you explained that if for some reason the surgery was going to have to be prolonged for an extended period, for my safety and the surgeons' optimal performance, you would stop and continue later in the week. And then, of course, you explained all the risks involved that could occur with any surgery.

However, you minimized the possible risks by having me have such detailed tests done beforehand to make sure that I could physically endure such a long and complicated surgery. You also gave me detailed information about what medication I should discontinue to minimize bleeding and anemia and the possibility of blood clots. I was examined by at least two other doctors for pre-op clearance.

I remember absolutely nothing about tech surgery itself and that is wonderful! I also cannot praise the staff at RWJ enough. Everyone, including all my nurses, all the aides, and even the custodians were wonderful. The nurses were very caring, patient and respectful, even when I am sure that I was a nuisance! The aides that came in to check vitals were friendly and always apologized for having to wake me up. A few of them even kept me entertained! They were there to assist me in walking to the bathroom, no matter how many times I had to press the buzzer. And speaking of the buzzer, RWJ is the only hospital where I have been that the buzzer was answered within seconds of my ringing it. And whoever answered, always did so as if I were the only patient on the floor and he/she were more than glad to answer my call. And someone always came, within minutes. And when I complained of being cold, one of the maintenance men brought me my own electric heater. What service!

Dr. Blecher, not only did you perform miracles on my back, but you were faithful about seeing me every single day of the nine days I was in the hospital, reporting on my progress and spending time answering any questions that my husband or I had. You explained things with terms that we could understand, but without making us feel demeaned. Unlike many doctors, you not only have knowledge and skill, but also a true bedside manner. You were constantly concerned about my well being.

For example, when three days after my surgery I developed excruciating abdominal pain that was unrelated to the surgery, you were determined to find the source and do whatever you could to alleviate it, although that was not your specialty. I admire your dogged attempt to pinpoint the source of the pain, literally spending hours with a radiologist looking at films of my stomach and then requesting an exam by a gastroenterologist. I don't know how many more days I would have spent in the hospital with gall bladder problems and possibly pancreatitis, if you had not been so relentless. The abdominal pain was much worse than any back pain I may have suffered after surgery.

You have seen me twice since the surgery. At the first visit you gave me an A+ on my progress, as I had been following your instructions perfectly, mainly because I had someone with me, making sure that I did not "Lift, Bend or Twist" as you had ordered. Afterwards, though I began doing more than I should have around the house and tried to extend my recommended thirty minute walks. I was tiring very easily. I also was doing exercises to strengthen my back, as recommended by the physical therapist. I complained bitterly about the pain I experienced while doing the exercises, but the therapist's philosophy was "No pain. No gain." After seeing you, I stopped doing the back-strengthening exercises completely and the intense pain went away immediately!

I have an appointment with you again, this week. When I see my lumbar spine films now, all the hardware makes me look as if I were a bionic woman. I do feel good, but not that good! However, I am anticipating another A+, as not only do I feel better than before, everyone else comments about how my posture and my gait are better than they ever were, even before the onset of the back pain.

I am saddened to tell you that my husband has transferred to Charlotte, North Carolina and we will be moving in about a month. It is interesting that my husband's job was the initial reason for our move to New Jersey from Florida. I came kicking and screaming, as I hate the cold weather. After fourteen months, I was just beginning to make good friends and become involved in the community and my church. I was beginning to love my house, which I hated when we first moved. I only got around to having my pictures hung a month before my surgery! And I even decided that New Jersey's winters weren't all that bad! And then my husband broke this news to me.

I have been asking myself why we moved here in the first place, to only be uprooted and have to move again in such short time. My family is convinced that we never came here for my husband's work, but rather God was leading us here so that I could have the surgery that I needed performed by the very best surgeon.

Thank you so much for all that you have done. You have certainly changed my life. But don't think that you won't see me again, as I intend to return to New Jersey to see you for my check-ups, as needed! I just don't trust anyone else with this miraculous back you have made for me!