4 8 • SU P P L E M E N T T O OU T PAT I E N T SU R G E RY MA G A Z I N E • AU G U S T 2017

When did you realize you had to get your knee replaced?One day, the throbbing pain wouldn’t go away. I speak at conferences alot, so I’m constantly traveling. You know those people who get ridesthrough the airport? That was me, so I knew it was time. I’m almost 60years old. That’s on the bottom half of the young side for knee replace-ment surgery, but we’re seeing more and more younger patients seek-ing out the procedure.

What insights did you gain from the patient’s perspective?I showed up at the hospital at 6:45 a.m., entered the OR at 7:30 andwas home by 11:00 that morning. Having the procedure done wasan absolute game-changer for me. I was surprised by how good Ifelt for the first 18 hours after surgery. I had no pain at all and couldbend my knee perfectly as soon as I got home. That blew me away. Thepain came on a few days later, but it never got out of control.

Did the experience change you as a surgeon?My surgical technique didn’t change, but I made significant adjustmentsto how I interact with patients before surgery. I became excited toimprove the pre-op education we provide patients. That’s their anti-anxiety pill, and I realized the more information we can provide them,the better off they’ll be.

What did you realize during the road to recovery?I felt really good right away, but I was also worried about stiffness inthe joint. When I first returned to work, my energy dropped in theafternoons. Patients used to tell me about what they experienced, but Icouldn’t fully appreciate what they went through. Now I know, and I’m betterable to inform my current patients about what they might experience duringthe months after surgery.

What do you tell patients now that you’ve faced what they endure?The journey of healing is really amazing. It’s not a straight, linear experience.There are quite a few ups and downs. During the good times, everything feelsgreat. During the down times, even I, as a surgeon, was getting worried. One of mypatients complained that her knee throbbed at night 3 weeks after surgery. I wasable to talk about what I went through. I told her, You’re going to feel frustrated,but it’ll get better. OSM

Dr. Kirschenbaum (ikirsch@bronxleb.org) is chairman of the department of orthopaedicsurgery at Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center in the Bronx, N.Y. Read more about his experiences as a patient at mykneeyourknee.com.

essons Learned From My Time on the TableL

Ira Kirschenbaum, MDJoint-replacement surgeon turned joint-replacement patient

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