This is a look back of my partial knee replacement of my right leg since 7 years ago. Although I…read morewas 69 years old, the recovery speed was quite good. I felt very weak on my first day and only able to walk about 20 feet. But I felt no pains on day 1 and spent first night in the Castle hospital with sound sleep. On second day I felt much better and continued to be pain free. Walk about 150 feet and attend the lunch meeting with other patients to share post op experiences. I worked with the resident physical therapist and easily reached ROM at 90 degree, then I made my first mistake to accept the urge from p. t. to continue increasing the bending angle to 98 degrees. I felt a sharp pain and injured something I thought. This injury might cause excessive swearing of my knee. At 3 pm, I was sent back to home. Since I did not feel much pains, I did not take pain medicine after returning home. This is my second mistake. I felt very sharp pains after mid night. Then I started taking pain medicine, but it was too late. Pains came like waves and I could not sleep anymore. My stomach got very upset from Oxycodone, so I switched to less effective drug tramadol which only partially block my pains. On day 5, the pains subsided a lot so that I stop taking prescribed pain medicine. Only took tylenol before knee bending exercises. The first two weeks I did not push myself too much as my leg excessive swelling was hard for me to bend too much. After 4 weeks p. t., my ROM was only 100. After 8 weeks, ROM was about 115 and I stopped going to p. t. sessions. I continued to do home exercises to bend my knees. Eventually I got ROM 120 after 5 years post op. A very long journey but I am very happy and grateful to Dr. Rasmussen. After 3 weeks post op, I could drive and walked without assistance to do my daily activities such as shopping or going to beaches. However, I experienced some pains deep inside my knee for a very long time if I walked more than one mile. Dr. Rasmussen thought this pain was caused by scar tissues inside my knee. Luckily the scar tissue problem suddenly disappeared after 5 years. Before the surgery, I asked Dr. Rasmussen, what is the success rate of a knee replacement? She replied to me, 100% success rate from me. Her confidence gave me comfort and calm feeling. Indeed, if you have a healthy body and prepare yourself with pre op exercises, you have nothing to worry about. Please trust Dr. Rasmussen and having a peaceful mind is also very important for a speedy recovery.

20 years ago Dr Rasmussen performed a full hip replacement on me, at the time I was a 50yo male in…read moregood physical shape. I recovered quite quickly and never had any problems. Circumstances returned me Happily to Oahu where I got the opportunity to see Linda again for the other hip. Absolutely changed my life at 69. It has been 8 weeks since my surgery and I am able to work out again, swim with no pain. I know it sounds silly, but just going for a walk without pain is beyond words for people who know. I would SO recommend Dr. Rasmussen (and her team at Castle). I know there are many Orthopedic Surgeons out there, but when you find one that is this good all I can say is THANK YOU.

Lifechanger!…read more Literally don't fall for anyone but your orthopedic physician and I'm so addement of seeking relief in life's situations regardless of what it is and I finally found what my pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Two years ago I broke my ankle and it's literally the way I fell damaged much more than I realized, it's a tiny bone not sure the name but that lead me to a boot for six weeks there was so many things that went wrong for me first I broke it on a Saturday so any work comp wasn't going through for a few days and going to a urgent care wasn't the best decision...make the trip to ER even as costly it would've been taken care of immediately as I didn't and had my ankle wrapped in a ton of ACE bandage for a week (because the referred ortho wouldn't even make an appointment without work comp number) and gave me crutches that was literally 5" too high and couldn't teach me how to use them...ugh! Long story short I'm still paying for that price dearly as the trauma a lot of my tendon, muscles and whatnots I developed arthritis in two locations my mid foot and knee which got me so immobile I was miserable and gained so much weight. For the second time I was referred to All Access Ortho which is great if you're desperate though it's all PA which is Physician Assistant and was able to get some pain meds but not a Disable Pass for my car as I'm on crutches for six weeks. Fast forward to now as I again with my complaint was referred to All Access Orth and after what I've been through decided to go on my own and found Orthopedics Associates which is a group of physicians all specialized in the specific areas so I had to see two one for my ankle the other for my knee. Though they did have access to my X-rays they needed a specific one an MRI to further see exactly what it is hoping I didn't need any surgery. Thankfully no surgery was needed and it wasn't as serious as they though it might be and it was arthritic we though was brought on by the trauma and one treatment was recommended and it was a shot which I took as there wasn't anything else and now I feel 1000% better and am so glad to have been persistent. You are your own boss and go seek help and it's never wrong to admit it's not right as the only person that has to deal with it all is yourself. Now I need to fix my mid foot as I have years and miles to explore life. Thank you!

For: Brandee Black, M.D. - Sports Medicine / Windward…read moreOrthopaedic Group Long post, but fractures are personal. Diagnosis: fractured ankle with 7mm mortise widening. Life lesson: learn to pause (or some kumbaya namaste ohm bs) If you ever find yourself in the unfortunate position of discovering that your ankle, foot, and leg have collectively decided to quit mid-week--because you're a great uncle, and maybe you were chasing children before bedtime-and honestly who doesn't love a Hump Day plot twist--let me save you some time: Dr. Brandee Black is the doctor you want. Here's the timeline. Wednesday: Foot fractured. Foot is dangling. It's bedtime and I'm old. Cut to 2:00am ER visit: I'm told to elevate for 24 hours, take Tylenol (not Advil...apparently Advil doesn't help bones heal, who knew. ) Then I was told to "call ortho." And they gave me Dr. Black as a referral. But, who doesn't love lying around with their foot dangling while their toes slowly transform into Vienna sausages? All the little piggies were absolutely not going to market tho...not on my watch. And there's nothing better than having your feet above your head ...so elevated rest and panic I did. What they don't mention is that even doctors have a work-life balance (as they should). So I spent the rest of the week and weekend marinating in swelling, fear, and Google searches until Monday, when calls were finally returned to schedule consults. Tuesday: I meet Dr. Black. Within minutes, she calmly confirmed all the things the ER didn't tell me (slash I didn't ask because it was 2am, I was in shock, and I just wanted to go home). Reality hit. Hard. I'll be honest--I was shopping around. Some doctors looked exhausted. Some looked like they were 12. Some couldn't or wouldn't take me. Some offices failed the receptionist vibe check (details matter). Dr. Black (and team) passed all of it. She was sharp, present, and human. I respected her immediately. By the end of the consult--a full week after my nephew chose chaos and my ankle doubled down--she confirmed I needed surgery. And then... I pulled out my list. Twenty-three questions. Yes, I counted. Yes, I gathered them from ChatGPT after I put everything in my Patient Portal from the ER and asked Chat to give me a list of questions I wouldn't know to ask about and questions their peers would ask too. No, she did not flinch. She answered every single one--clearly, patiently, without rushing me, without talking down to me, and without that tired, quota-driven energy you sometimes get in medical offices (no shade, it is a business). I cried during the Q&A. Not a full sob--but definitely more than a single dignified tear. (Also, shoutout to the movie Boys Don't Cry... respectfully, they're wrong.) It had been a full week of "hurry up and wait," and it finally caught up to me. Then she scheduled surgery for the very next day. Wednesday: Surgery day at Castle. I'm sitting there waiting for my knifing (jk), and Dr. Black comes in to check on me. Even then--even then--she made time to ask if I had any last-minute questions. I did. Of course I did. But it was more for post surgery. I asked about PEMF mats ( ChatGPT again asked me to look into it and ask her)...She gave me an honest answer: it couldn't hurt, there are studies, but she didn't have a fully formed opinion yet. That kind of grounded honesty matters to me. The surgery itself? About an hour long, yet somehow felt like a one-night stand where I woke up disoriented and immediately had to do the walk of shame. Shout-out to the whole surgical team: * the cute doctor who gave me a nerve block (while my ass was fully out because he asked me to flip over--sir, have you been watching Heated Rivalry because I'm obedient and blushing, call me Shane Hollander. * the nurses who asked me the same questions approximately 97 times...ONLY THE LEFT FOOT ANKLE (nurses were a little less impressed with me but I digress) * the moment I woke up to liquids being forced down my throat before being gently but firmly kicked out like, "Okay, you're alive, a hui ho. Malama your mama." All jokes aside: I trusted Dr. Black with a complicated foot with multiple issues surgery, and I'm a patient with a very anxious attachment style. She earned my trust completely. Skilled, direct, compassionate, and present when it counted--before surgery, during surgery, and in the moments where fear sneaks in. She's delightful and non fussy - not much of a hand holder...all things that spoke to me. Truly. If you need an orthopedic surgeon who listens, answers your questions (even the long list ones), respects your intelligence, and still has a soul--Dr. Brandee Black is it. 10/10. Would let her fix my foot again. Would prefer not to need to tho Thank you Dr.Black Also thanks to Bri (the Nurse at WOG)

Dr. Rasmussen recently did my whole knee replacement surgery. It's been one month & the knee has…read morehealed nicely with hardly any pain. I still have a ways to go but I'm so happy with the results. The office staff & nurses are so helpful & nice.

Anyone who has been a patient of Dr. Wakatsuki should be considered fortunate. He is a…read morecompassionate, kind gentleman; unlike any that you will ever meet as an orthopedic surgeon. He respects your view on how to be treated and does anything he can to make you comfortable during a horrible ordeal...and anyone that needs an orthopedic surgeon would need such TLC. He saved not only my foot, but my life as well and I'd like this opportunity to publicly thank him. He did not have to take me as a patient because my first surgeon screwed up the surgery so bad, I almost lost my life. Dr. Wakatsuki took me on a patient to fix what the other surgeon did (and not many surgeons would even consider doing just that). Thank you, Dr. Wakatsuki!

At the recommendation of another orthopedic surgeon/friend of mine, I scheduled an appointment to…read moresee Dr. Wakatsuki about an ankle injury that was bothering me. He is very busy (clearly has a lot of happy clients), but found the time to listen to what was going on, asses the injury and recommend an xray and then an MRI before concluding any more aggressive action. His treatment and care are unrivaled and I appreciated his time to diagnose my ankle injury.

this fine orthopedic surgeon sadly passed away. aloharead more

Arrived for a scheduled check-up and routine cleaning. The front office was welcoming and very…read moreefficient in checking me in. Within a minute I was already on the examining chair and my teeth was ready to be worked on after the staff made me comfortable with a neck pillow that I requested. Met w/Dr. Masten who explained the day's procedure and asked about any other concerns. At the end of the cleaning Dr. Masten reappeared and explained the prognosis of what may be causing pain to the right side while biting down and suggested a prescription of (CHL) Chlorhexidine while explaining what it was and the proper use. Agreed on a 2 week progress follow-up appointment. Dr. Masten seems to be very knowledgeable in his profession, explaining everything that I could understand. I place full confidence in receiving the best possible care at Kaizen Dental Center.