This Doctor has no bedside manners. His ego shows. He is very rude, doesn't let you express your…read moreconcerns before he is cutting you off. His staff could improve their attitudes as well.
However, I had my first knee replacement with Dr. Raterman in 2020, on my left knee. I had no issues, so when he told me back then, that my right knee which rarely bothered me, was worst than my left which was the one in excruciating pain, I decide to go with the one I had most pain with. Then in 2023, I chose him again, and suffer through his personality, thinking the results would be similar to my first surgery since it was same doctor.
But this surgery he did it with the assistant of a robot. To improve my recovery I went just like in the first surgery to a rehab center, spent two weeks doing physical therapy and then did outpatient physical therapy as well. I kept complaining to physical therapy, and to doctor Raterman, and his very caring nurse practitioner Dr. Wicker, that something felt different and not in a good way. I was in pain, I couldn't sleep if I laid on my right side. I finished physical therapy and it's documented of my complaint. I went home and continued my exercises for months, but the pain just wouldn't go away. Because of Raterman's attitude I started seen is nurse practitioner which sent me 2 or 3 different times to get MRIs done, the mechanical equipment would come out fine. It showed swelling even a year and half later, even two years later. They gave me different medications and nothing helped. I started loosing strength in my knee, I couldn't even lead with that leg to go up a small flight of stairs. If I was getting off the side walk I had to make sure I did it in a way I didn't bend that knee because I would be in tears. I started developing like lumps under my skin, like cyst. So, I decided in April of 2025 to put up with Raterman again and go talk to him, since he did the surgery. Like always is demeanor is so bad. When I started to inform him of what I was feeling, immediately, he cut me off, and said to me and I qoute" So I guess you think I have some miracle WD-40 to spray it and fix your knee" he said this with a straight face. I told him it was not that; but it makes no sense, two years later I am worse than I was before surgery. I've complained for two years in horrible pain. His answer was, unless you think it's that bad that it's worth me going in and destroying all that I did. He took it personally, it was about what he did and not about my pain. Like I said before the MRIs, shows swelling all the time. The mechanical part is fine, but something got hurt in there and I am paying the price. Raterman just gave me a referral for physical therapy again. He said there is nothing he can do, in a way so cold and uncaring. It shows he doesn't care, and I am still in pain and looking for a second opinion. I have called my insurance and informed them as well, they will be investigating. I know something is wrong, I feel it everyday. If you need a surgery, please don't go here, safe yourself the grief. Raterman, only cares about his ego. Good luck.
