Rush review - Dr Gerlinger

Rush review - Dr Gerlinger

I felt that Dr. Gerlinger at Rush gave me an honest no noncence diagnoses to an extreemly complex problem that I am faceing involving recalled metal on metal Smith & Nephew cobalt hip implants. I had A bilateral hip replacement in 2008, and the results were quite good on one side which was a total hip, and not so good on the other side which was a resurfaced Hip. Because the hip implants were metal on metal I ended up with toxic cobalt levels, and loads of pain, indeed cripplling pain. I tryed my best to Research my situation, and the most frequent thing to come up was a plan designed by an attorney from one firm or another involving A total hip revision, followed up by a lawsuit. I had all the systemic symptoms of cobalt poisoning, hypothyroidism, depression, loss of lucidity, and pain that was so unbearable It has me living a Sedentary lifestyle with a full blown disability. Over time my cobalt levels went down below what is considered Toxic, Mainly in my opinion because I could no longer move my hips and therefore there was no grinding to cause metal ions in fragments in my blood
What impressed me the most about my experiance is that the Dr. Gerlinger addressed the primary reason for my being there which always from the start was the pain which was stopping my life. He was the first doctor, & I had seen many, to address my Sciatic nerve being inCompassed by bone mass as being the sorce of my pain, & not The hip appliance itself. For the first time in yesrs I felt like a doctor pinpointed the cause of my intence pain.
Even though the the opporation required to address my problem was a complicated & indeed dangerous procedure, it was liberating knowing what the problem was .
In summery I was very impressed with Midwest orthopedics at Rush, and pray that they will assist me in the process and surgery required to free up my sciatic nerve, rather than doing what other doctors and lawyers focused on which was a total hip revision procedure . I wanted out of pain, & without makeing any lofty promissrs they explained the risks involved & the potential benefits To removing The ossification, or acquired bone mass around the implanted hip joint & freeing up the sciatic nerve rather than doing a total hip revision surgery .
Trust is essential when you are putting your life in someone s hands, and because of his honest approach, and unique ideas I feel compleetly comfortable moving forward with Dr. Gerlinger & this very fine group.