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 Frank DiMaio, MD, Chairman, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, assesses Mr. Melio's progress during a follow-up visit.
Alexander Melio suffered with the constant throbbing pain of two bad knees for a year-and-a-half thinking nothing would alleviate the endless agony. Working on his feet all day only made his condition worse. Last year, he had enough.
"I had constant painhe explained. "At times, I didn't know which one to limp on."
After one doctor performed arthroscopic surgery, telling him there was no need for further surgery and that the pain should be bearable, he decided to get a second opinion atthrop's Institute for Specialty Care-Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine Center. The advice and care he received from Frank DiMaio, MD, Chairman of Winthrop's Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, changed his life.
"Visiting Dr. DiMaio was the best thing that ever happened to me," he said. "He saw the problem and dug right in."
In November, Dr. DiMaio replaced Alex's right knee using minimally invasive surgery. Eight days after the procedure, he was up and driving his car.
"My right knee was great, it carried the left knee for five months and was still going strong," he said.
He returned to work only after four weeks of rest. The success of the surgery provided a mixed blessing, however; with no pain in his right knee, the left knee's pain became unbearable. Five months later, in April, he had his left knee replaced.
"This time, I was driving the very next day," he explained. "The hardest thing was getting in and out of the car."
Determined to keep out of bed and recover faster was Alex's personal goal. He immediately started using a cane after surgery, returning to work pain-free in three weeks.
"Before my surgeries, I did everything with constant pain, but now, I am looking forward to doing things without worry. I put my life in Dr. DiMaio's hands. He's been outrageously great. And in the end, it was the best thing for me."
For more information, call (516) 520-3164.
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