Client Testimonial – Meniscal Tear Repair
Alistair – Tarifa
‘Dr. Boerger did a brilliant job on my knee. I really recommend him. I’ve made a very swift recovery following the repair of a meniscal tear. The whole service was first class, with Louise, the Patient Care Co-ordinator, liaising with my insurance, taking care of all the details’
‘I’m not sure how I injured my knee to be honest,’ confirms Alistair. He continues, ‘in February I went skiing in Sierra Nevada; I slipped on ice and landed on my right knee. At the time I didn´t think much of it. Yet a few weeks later it began to ‘niggle’ me and got progressively worse. The pain in the end made me see the GP at Gibraltar’s Specialist Medical Clinic, who after an examination and MRI, referred me to Dr. Thomas Boerger.’
Background
Alistair made an appointment for a private consultation and Louise Truelove, the Patient Care Co-ordinator for Dr. Boerger made all the necessary arrangements.
‘Louise was brilliant’ enthuses Alistair. ‘She dealt directly with my medical insurance, booked the consultation and make sure I had a very good experience.’
The Consultations
‘Dr. Thomas Boerger was very thorough in the consultation. I was there for over an hour. He could see on the scan that there was a tear and he explained that, since it had not yet healed naturally, the recommendation was for a reconstructive procedure. He outlined everything. Within a week Louise was in touch again and a date for surgery was agreed. The service really was first class.
The Procedures
I had the operation at the private hospital HC International, Marbella. Like most, I’m not a huge fan of hospitals and of course I felt a little apprehensive. Yet it’s a nice, intimate place. The team sorted out my PCR test and I was taken to my private room and then the nurse took my blood pressure and conducted a few final pre-op tests. After a few hours I was taken to the ante room by the operating theatre and within a half hour I was in theatre.
I had an epidural, so I was conscious throughout the procedure. Dr. Boerger asked if I wanted to watch. I said at the time that I didn’t particularly want to, but in the end I watched everything, and Dr Boerger talked me through what he was doing, explaining everything. The whole procedure only took about 15 minutes. It seemed incredibly swift. It was the preparation, waiting and recovery that took the time.
I spent the late afternoon and evening recovering in my room. It took a few hours to get back the full feeling in my legs due to the epidural – and whilst I was waiting I got quite strong ‘pins and needles’ in my other leg, but it was just part of the recovery process.
HC Hospital has a personal feel. The medical team left me in peace and respected my privacy, but I knew nurses were there if I called them.
I could have gone home that evening, but since I didn’t live nearby it was more convenient to stay overnight – I couldn’t walk ‘till almost 10pm so it made sense to stay, and my wife collected me the following morning.
Recovery
I feel like I’ve had an incredible recovery. Dr. Boerger’s nurse, Tanya, gave me pain killers, yet after a day or so I didn’t need them.
Initially my knee was a bit stiff, and I had a few little niggles, but I saw that as part of the process of recovery during the first 10 days. What surprised me was how pain-free my recovery was, how little discomfort I was in.
I left the hospital with crutches, and I used those to get into the car and into the house on the first day, but I didn’t need them after that. I felt fine, I was of course walking gingerly on my knee, but it was great! I’m in my late 40s and I am really happy with the way the healing has gone.
I was back driving within the week and walking to and from the office.
Dr. Thomas Boerger did a brilliant job. I found him to be very personable, and he took the time to explain everything about the meniscal cartilage, and about the repair procedure. I thoroughly recommend him.