I hardly know where to begin in expressing my gratitude and admiration for Dr. James C. Wittig's care and treatment of my rather unusually challenging knee disease. Since at least 2004, I had suffered from a rare, benign but aggressive tumor, called pigmented vilonodular synovitis--PVNS for short. My symptoms went from painless but marked swelling to increasingly debilitating though still painless swelling of the knee. The first orthopedic surgeon I consulted asked me in 2011 if I could live with it. At the time, since my only symptom was a slight limp, I told him I could. A slight limp seemed preferable to surgery. This turned out to have been very bad advice since the PVNS tumor, clearly indicated on the MRI done at the time, was progressively destroying my knee joint. By early 2017, I acceded to the use of a cane to walk comfortably. A second orthopedic surgeon, looking at a new MRI, told me that on account of the PVNS I needed to consult an orthopedic oncologist, and immediately recommended Dr. Wittig.
My first consultation with Dr. Wittig was a reassuring experience. He patiently described the surgical intervention required, and explained that it would have to be done in two consecutive surgeries, the first to excise the tumor on the back of the knee, the second to excise the remaining tumor on the front of the knee and complete the full knee replacement. Perhaps most striking, though, was that Dr. Wittig, a warm person by nature, went on in a leisurely way to get to know me. There was no sense that he was anxious to move on to his next patient. He showed genuine interest in my multiple professions--musician, photographer, and writer. In my capacity as a writer, I was especially anxious to know if my recovery from these two surgeries would permit me to make the lecture tour to Germany planned for later in the year. He told me that though I might still require a cane, he thought the trip should be no problem.
Through both surgeries, Dr. Wittig has been especially friendly and forthcoming with my wife. After each hours-long surgery he immediately came out of the OR to reassure her that the operation had gone well, and that he had been able to save my leg. The day after my second surgery, Dr. Wittig made a special trip into the hospital from his home some 25 miles away to visit me and see how I was doing. During my recovery, he has been in touch with both my wife and me via email and Facebook to check on my recovery, and to send messages of encouragement.
Now, thanks both to Dr. Wittig and my talented physical therapist, I walk without a cane, and am back on my bicycle. Recovery had been scheduled for 6 weeks; I am ahead of schedule by a full week, and I am looking forward to my trip to Germany in 2 1/2 weeks. Dr. Wittig is a truly remarkable physician and human being. read more