Dr. Milhorat

[Guest guest]

Hi Everyone,

Due to a previous posting, I wanted to clear up any misunderstandings

about my medical care in New York. This will be long!

My experience with Dr. Milhorat started 1 1/2 years ago. I contacted

his office, had two extensive phone interviews, was set up for an

appointment. My husband and I went to the appointment, not knowing what

to expect. We had a three hour appointment, and we both walked away

with more knowledge of ACM than we had learned in the 7 years prior to

that appointment.

I had a standard decompression in 1990, followed by a shunt for

hydrocephalus. I was told my surgery had been a success, even though it

left me with constant 24 hour a day, 7 days a week headaches. Those

were diagnosed as migraines, even though I had never had a migraine

before in my life.

When headaches became so severe, and every test in the book had been

done locally, I went in search of a new nsg.

After my appointment with Dr. Milhorat, and comparing my MRI's to normal

MRI's, I could see what my problem had been all along. We opted to have

a second decompression done, and I was very pleased with my results.

I was told to do follow up at 6 weeks, 6 months, and 1 year. I could do

all of them in NY, or do just the one year in NY. He wanted full

reports of all of my follow up visits if they were done locally. I was

told to call the office if I had any complications.

I have a great network of doctors locally that kept in close contact

with Dr. Milhorat. Follow up started the week I came home from the

hospital.

At three months post op, I had a minor accident. Symptoms of a different

nature started to surface. I had always had a retroflexed odontoid, and

between the lamenectomy's from my prior decompression, multiple

surgeries and accidents, my Basilar Impression (cranial settling) became

symptomatic.

I was instructed by a PA at Dr. Milhorat's to try Diamox for a trial

period. That did not work. I asked to speak with Dr. Milhorat. His

phone call was returned after a period of time. We decided at that time

that I would need to be seen again for follow up. An appointment was

made within the month.

Upon examination, Dr. Milhorat suspected the cranial settling. He asked

me to use in home traction for a period of 2-3 weeks. At that mark, we

extended the home traction to make sure that the CS was definitely the

problem. Neither of us wanted to rush into another surgery.

After a four week period of time, I continued to have pain and symptoms

worsen. It was at that point that we scheduled more surgery.

I was told by a resident that a halo would be over kill, and then

speaking with Dr. Milhorat before surgery, the topic came up again. Dr.

Milhorat said that he wanted to take every precaution and thought that a

halo was indeed necessary. I was very relieved by his decision. At

that time, it had been mentioned that it would be on approx. 6-8 weeks.

Dr. Milhorat worked with the chief of orthopedics on my case, and they

both decided that a three month period of time would be best for the

halo. I am currently 2 months post op with one month to go.

I have had to make phone calls back and forth to New York, one being a

follow up on the 6 week x ray. Dr. Milhorat was unable to get right

back with me on the films, but I was reassured that everything was

looking great. I did receive a phone call within one week of them

receiving my films.

In defense of Dr. Milhorat, his office receives over 100 phone calls per

day, not to mention the vas numbers of MRI's that are sent for his

evaluation.

When making the decision to go long distance for my surgery, I also had

to come to terms with the fact that I would be making several trips to

NY over the next few years. When I was asked to return, I didn't argue

the point, I made arrangements to go.

As far as the long term success of his surgery, the findings are not in

yet. I knew that going into my surgery, and I made that decision. If I

were newly diagnosed, I would make the same decision to go to New York.

If you want to talk invasive procedures, removing part of the C1 and C2

vertebrae, and then opening the dura, both seem pretty radical to me.

Dr. Milhorat is removing skull, granted a large portion, but then

replacing it with a plate.

There will be some rejection of the plate, putting anything foreign in

the body there is the risk of rejection.

I will get off of my soap box now. I feel my experience has been one of

kindness, consideration, and the best surgical care I could ask for.

Kathleen

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