Dr. Keith Segalman, is by far, the most amazing doctor that I have ever met. When I was 18, I was…read moreplaying oboe in college but a year later, I was told that my arms and hands wouldn't heal if I didn't give up my instrument. Frustrated, I moved back home with my parents and saw multiple doctors to figure out what was going on. It took me THREE tries to get the right doctor.
Dr. Segalman ran many tests, ones that other doctors hadn't even mentioned in the past. Eventually, he did the Thoracic Outlet Syndrome test on me and it came back positive. Finally, I had a diagnosis. I asked him what the next steps were and he said either physical therapy or surgery. When I asked what he think would be best, the first words out of his mouth were, "if you were my daughter, I'd have you do physical therapy first." I was completely sold that minute. He would be the one performing my surgery but the fact that he wanted me to try a non-evasive way to get relief was an amazing thing. Unfortunately, PT didn't work. Next step was to schedule surgeries with him and he discussed the two ways he could go about doing the surgery and what to expect after recovery. I felt beyond confident with everything he said, and so did my parents.
At the age of 21, Dr. Segalman removed my right first rib in May of 2013 and then my left first rib in November of 2013. Within two weeks, I was back to work and functioning like a normal human being again. By 2014, I felt like a brand new person. My arms didn't hurt, I didn't have any numbness or tingling, I didn't have to wake up 15 minutes early to get feeling back in my arms.. I was normal. And for the first time in years, I slept like a baby and through the entire night. He told me I was the fastest healing patient he's had from these surgeries.
Dr. Segalman also performed surgery on my hand, to tighten the tendons that had loosened when I was an oboist. He warned me this was going to be more painful than having ribs removed and boy, was he right. He helped manage my pain levels in and out of surgery, he assured me the recovery was worth it and once again, he was right. He performed the surgery in January of 2014 and it is now March of 2016, and I haven't had any discomfort in my hand in a year and a half. It's the most glorious feeling in the world.
Two years ago, I went back to Dr. Segalman to make sure everything was okay because I was experiencing new pain in my hands, which ended up being carpal tunnel. He re-ran the Thoracic Outlet Syndrome test and it came back negative, meaning his surgeries were 100% successful. What more could I ask for? I chose to live with my carpal tunnel and I do not regret my decision one minute. Dr. Segalman taught me ways to live with it, gave me advice and it worked like a champion.
My last surgery was two years ago and I am now successfully living in California with my husband, awaiting the arrival of our first child. Without those surgeries, I doubt I'd be able to physically enjoy my pregnancy and I wouldn't have the strength in my arms to be able to carry her in the future. Without Dr. Segalman, I would not feel like the normal, functioning human that I feel like today.
Thank you for ALL that you have done. You are an amazing doctor, surgeon and person!