Having been a patient of the former Orthopedics Associates since the 1980s where the docs there put…read morevarious parts of my body back together, I returned to the same scene of many a visit throughout the past 40 years. Orthopedics Associates has gone; in the same office space is the superb CENTERS FOR ADVANCED ORTHOPAEDICS, ORTHO SPECIALISTS OF METRO WASHINGTON, SILVER SPRING OFFICE.
In August of 2018 when I could no longer bear knee pain, I drove out to Silver Spring. Am I a creature of habit, or am I simply loyal? That's when I first met Stanley the PA and Dr. Christopher Magee the orthopaedic surgeon. I recall watching Stanley smiling as he called the patients and slowly walking beside those who were moving with difficulty rather than walking ahead to wait for them. I recall Stanley's patience as he waited for me to put back the needlepoint I had been stitching when my name was called.
I remember my first meeting with Dr. Magee. Here was a physician who, although he had heard the same complaints from a zillion patients with my condition, listened intently as if he was hearing this account for the first time. After X-rays were taken, Dr. Magee began his explanation of the treatment. The injections were painless and there was no cortisone flare, as can happen. In fact, I was pain-free for 10 months although we are told to expect relief for just 2-3 months.
And now about today, June 19, 2019. After leaving my one-level Florida home, I was back in Bethesda. After two weeks of climbing stairs, the pain was back, and I went back to Dr. Magee. The women at the front desk were efficiently and pleasantly checking in patients. Stanley was still doing his thing easily putting patients at ease, chatting and preparing the medication.
Dr. Magee had taken the time to review my records before seeing me. How often does that happen? Once again, he patiently listened to my tale of woe and once again the two injections were administered. All questions were answered; follow-up was discussed. Am I creature of habit or am I loyal? Certainly, a bit of both, and certainly, as long as this practice is in practice, I will be back whether it's my knee, my shoulder, my neck, or my back - all body parts that have been treated in this familiar place but now with my fairly new doc, the very experienced, able and kind Dr. Christopher Magee.
Stairs today? No problem!