Q. Does Dr. Berger perform every surgery? A. Yes. Dr. Berger performs every minimally invasive surgery himself. Q. What type of prosthetic is used in Minimally Invasive Surgery? A. Dr. Berger uses the same type prosthetic which is used in standard total joint replacements; these include high flex and gender specific knee prosthetics. Q. Does Dr. Berger do the anterior hip approach? A. In fact, Dr. Berger pioneered the anterior approach to hip replacement surgeries. Dr. Berger is the only physician in the country doing an outpatient anterior hip replacement. Q. Do patients really leave the same day? A. All of Dr. Berger’s patients are full weight bearing the same day of surgery so the majority of patients are able to walk out of the hospital the same day. *Find more information on the Surgical Procedures Page Q. Is Minimally Invasive Joint Replacement Surgery right for me? A. Dr. Berger’s minimally invasive surgery can help alleviate the pain and discomfort of arthritis. If you have been told a replacement may be necessary, Dr. Berger will likely agree. Q. How can I get more information and/or schedule an appointment? A. Please contact Rachel Schiller at (312) 432-2557 or Liz Smith at (312) 432-2442. Request an appointment online here. Q. Can I mail x-rays and other medical information for the doctor to review? A. Please contact either Rachel Schiller at (312) 432-2557 or Liz Smith at (312) 432-2442 to discuss virtual options if you are traveling. Q. What is the sequence of events after I decide to schedule an appointment? A. A total of two to five visits may be required to have the surgery performed by Dr. Berger; some of these visits can be combined for our patients who live outside of the Midwest. These visits may include: A: Approximately 40% of Dr. Berger’s patients travel from out of state for his minimally invasive joint replacement surgery. Q: Can I send my x-rays and medical history to Dr. Berger before traveling to Chicago for an appointment? A: Yes. You can start by reaching out to one of Dr. Berger’s New Patient Liaisons at (312) 432-2557. They can walk you through the process and provide the address where your images and paperwork can be sent. Q: How many trips do I need to take to Chicago for appointments/surgery? A: Patients traveling to Chicago for surgery have two options: Option 1: Includes three trips to Chicago. 1st Trip: Initial Consultation with Dr. Berger 2nd Trip: Pre-operative Appointments & Surgery 3rd Trip: Follow-up Appointment Option 2: Includes one trip to Chicago. Only Trip: Pre-operative Appointments & Surgery *This option includes a virtual consultation and virtual follow-up appointment.* Q: How can I minimize the total trips I need to take to Chicago for surgery? A: By going virtual. If you would like to have x-rays taken locally and sent to Dr. Berger’s office, along with the required paperwork, Dr. Berger’s New Patient Liaison can set up a virtual consultation for you. The virtual consultation entails a video meeting with either Dr. Berger’s Nurse Practitioner or Physician’s Assistant. They will then present your case to Dr. Berger so he can determine if you’re a candidate for minimally invasive joint replacement surgery. From there, the surgical arrangements can be made over the phone and you would meet Dr. Berger the day before your surgery. Virtual appointments are available for follow-up visits as well. Q: How does physical therapy work post-operatively if I live out of state? A: In-home physical therapy is set up for you by Dr. Berger’s Discharge Liaison, regardless of where you live. Additionally, outpatient physical therapy will also be local to you. Q: How long do I need to stay in Chicago after surgery? A: If you are flying home or driving more than 4 hours home after surgery, you will need to stay in Chicago for 48 hours. One of Dr. Berger’s nurses will check in with you before you depart. Q: Am I able to fly home after surgery? A: Yes. With Dr. Berger’s minimally invasive approach to joint replacement surgery, you’re mobile very quickly; therefore, you’re at a much lower risk of blood clots and it is safe to fly as soon as 48 hours after the procedure. Q: Do I need a follow-up appointment after surgery? A: Yes. You will need to schedule a three to four-week follow-up appointment after your surgery. This appointment may be in person, or virtual depending on your preference. Q: Do I need to have someone with me while traveling for surgery? A: Yes. It is important to have a friend or family member with you pre-operatively and post-operatively, including travel to and from Chicago. Our office can assist with arrangements for care while you’re here in Chicago if you do not have a caretaker throughout your stay. Q: Where should I stay while I’m in Chicago? A. Our office can assist you with hotel recommendations or you may view a list of hotels offering special rates to patients of Dr. Berger and their families below: Q. Will my leg swell after surgery? A. It is very common to experience swelling after surgery, this can usually occur 3-4 days after surgery. The more activities and physical therapy you perform, the more swelling you may experience. Remember the RICE protocol and continue to rest, ice, and elevate, especially after physical therapy. Q. Will I have bruising after surgery? A. Yes, you will have significant bruising after surgery, but everyone is different. Some will only experience redness around the incision; others may have bruising down the entire leg, and both are very normal. Q. What should I expect my activity level to be? A. Every patient is different. Every day you should be increasing your activity level, but let your pain level and swelling be your guide. Approximately around 6 weeks after surgery, you will be 90 percent recovered and the remaining ten percent will come within the next year. Q. How much weight can I put through my leg after surgery? A. Put as much weight as you can tolerate through your surgical leg immediately after surgery. The term is “weight bearing as tolerated.” Your physical therapist will instruct you on how to use your assistive device in order to perform this properly. Q. I just had hip replacement surgery. How long will I have restrictions? A. There are three positions you need to avoid for three weeks to decrease the risk of dislocating your hip. The positions include: no crossing your legs at the knee, ankles or ankle over knee, no twisting/rotating at your hip, and no bending at your waist past 90 degrees. Q. When can I shower or bathe after surgery? A. You can shower the day after surgery. To ensure that your incision heals properly, we do not want you to bathe or get into a swimming pool until your post-op appointment 3-4 weeks after surgery. Q. What about using a hot tub or whirlpool? A. Because of the heat and bacteria in the water, we do not want you to use a hot tub or whirlpool for six weeks. Q. How long do I have to wear stockings? A. You should wear the compression stockings on both legs for three weeks. Keep the compression stockings on during the day and remove them at night. Q. When can I restart the meds I was told to stop prior to surgery? A. Unless indicated, you can resume your medications the night of surgery. Please contact one of Dr. Berger’s nurses if you have any questions. Q. I just had a knee replacement. Is it normal to hear clicking in my knee after surgery? A. You may hear clicking in the knee after surgery and this is normal. It is usually more noticeable after surgery when you have swelling. As the swelling decreases the clicking may become less noticeable. Q. I just had knee replacement. Will I be able to kneel after surgery? A. We recommend waiting six months before kneeling. Although it will not damage the prosthesis to kneel, many patients find it mildly uncomfortable to do so. We always recommend placing a cushion under your knee to help alleviate the discomfort Q. When should I take antibiotics? Who will give me the antibiotics? How long should I take the antibiotics? You should take antibiotics before the following procedures: Please contact the office to obtain the antibiotic from Dr. Berger. Do not schedule any of the above appointments starting 3 weeks before the surgery and 3 months after surgery. This is a lifelong precaution. Q. What insurance does Dr. Berger take? A. Contact Vennessa (312-432-2356) to discuss how we can work with your insurance policy to make Dr. Berger’s minimally invasive hip and knee replacement surgery possible for you. Q. Is there a local hotel where I can stay? A. Our office can assist you with hotel recommendations or you may view a list of hotels offering special rates to patients of Dr. Berger and their families below: Q. Where is Dr. Berger located? A. Dr. Berger sees patients for appointments at: 1611 W. Harrison St., Chicago, IL 60612 Dr. Berger performs surgery at the following locations: Rush Oak Brook Surgery Center: 2011 York Rd., Suite 3000, Oak Brook, IL 60523 Munster Surgery Center: 9200 Calumet Ave., Suite S-100, Munster, IN 46321 North Shore Surgical Suites: 8400 Lakeview Pkwy., Suite 800, Pleasant Prairie, WI 53158 Dancing with his daughter again. The average amount of money... Richard Ganz is a man on the move. At 61 years old, the Wilmette resident... Bilateral Hip & Bilateral Knee Replacement Patient “If you were to...FAQs
Rush University Medical Center: 1620 W. Harrison St., Chicago, IL 60612Real Patient Results
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