When I first arrived on the scene in August of 1973, the other orthopaedic surgeons in Smithtown weren’t exactly thrilled to see me. I didn’t find out til later on, but my new Associates had been in a struggle for dominance in town with another large group and had been sort of “rubbing their noses in it,” about my coming into their practice–the first fellowship trained joint surgeon on Long Island. So, quite naturally, but unbeknownst to me, the other guys were more than a little peeved, before they even met me.
 
I had just completed the Aufranc Fellowship, arguably the finest and most prestigious joint reconstruction fellowship in the country. But like all residents and fellows, I had been part of the house staff in the hospitals in which I trained. I had no airs, no sense of entitlement and I hope, no arrogance. Training programs are all very cooperative: The patients always come first, but everyone is in it together and we all help one another, in a spirit of good-fellowship.
 
So, the motives and behavior that the other guys in town projected onto me, were wholely undeserved and were frankly mystifying to me. I had always gotten along with everyone–my nickname was “Easy Bill.” To be treated with suspicion, paranoia and thinly veiled hostility for (to my knowledge) no reason, right out of the box, was quite a shock. I was, in short, clueless about the now competitive nature of my relationship with the other surgeons. Welcome to ”Private Practice,” kid!
 
Since I had no inkling of what had provoked this response, I tended to be a little defensive and decided, “Well, I’ll show THEM.” And I did.
 
I did procedures that I had been trained to do, complex surgeries that no one else in town had even seen, much less done. And I was adept at scooping up free patients from the ER, making friends with the ER docs and nurses, the family physicians and internists in town, and especially the rheumatologists. I did consultations and saw patients in the office and the ER with the raw energy of the newly minted doctor.
 
I was aggressive in doing surgeries, like no one but a young surgeon can be. And although I NEVER did a surgery that wasn’t warranted, I tended to view all problems through the prism of my training: “If you have a hammer, everything looks like a nail.” As a result, it was a self-fulfilling prophecy–I BECAME exactly what my collegues had feared and was soon acknowledged as THE regional expert in my field.  And yet…
 
It’s an old, but true saying: “There are OLD surgeons and there are BOLD surgeons; but there are NO old, bold surgeons.” Things I did then, though strictly indicated, I would never do, or recommend today. Certain things you only learn through time and experience. And after nearly a quarter century in the Operating Room, I’ve learned that the very best surgery is the one you AVOID. I’ve learned to respect the integrity of the body and appreciate its capacity for self-healing. 
 
In short, I learned the wisdom of the non-surgical solution.
 
That’s not to say that there aren’t times when only surgery will do. There are. But many times, patience and the use of time-tested non-surgical solutions, from across the entire medical spectrum, conventional, alternative and complimentary, will help relieve your pain and restore your function–but do that WITHOUT SURGERY. And that’s why I wrote my newest healing program, HOW TO AVOID KNEE SURGERY. See it here at:    http://drbillsclinic.com/avoid_knee_surgery.html
 
Even if you don’t have knee pain right now, the methods and strategies revealed in this program will help you PREVENT conditions that result in pain. And, of course, if you DO suffer an injury, you’ll be prepared to get the right treatment, avoid mistakes and vastly improve your chances to AVOID KNEE SURGERY, if that’s possible.  So be smart, before the fact. BE PREPARED. Get your copy of this unique program, today. Click on the link NOW:    http://drbillsclinic.com/avoid_knee_surgery.html
 
Til next time, my friend, be well.
 
Yours for a pain-free tomorrow,
 
Dr. Bill

P.S. For DR. BILL’S LITTLE GREEN BOOK ON ELIMINATING KNEE PAIN, a concise, but complete handbook on the root causes and the various options for treating knee pain, go to http://drbillsclinic.com/eliminate_knee_pain.html
 
P.P.S. For DR. BILL’S PAIN-FREE PROGRAM: EXERCISES TO PREVENT OR ELIMINATE KNEE PAIN, please go to
 http://drbillsclinic.com/exercise_eliminate.html
 
P.P.P.S. For the giant, comprehensive ADVANCED MASTERS’ COURSE: HOW TO ELIMINATE KNEE PAIN–ONCE & FOR ALL!, everything you need to know on causes and solutions for knee pain and the complete exercise program, too, go to
 http://drbillsclinic.com/advanced_masters.html
 
FREE BONUS CD with any order: THE HEALING POWER OF POSITIVE PAIN PERCEPTION
 
Copyright, 2008 by William Thomas Stillwell, MD
All rights reserved

Well, today I’m heading back to Florida, the Land of Sunshine. It’s been cloudy and drizzly for the past few days in Southampton–nothing serious, but gray.  This grayness is typical of Long island in the winter,  and is any excellent arguement for being elsewhere during that season. 

Besides being gloomy and chill, after a while, that absence of sunshine can have health consequences, due to lack of vitamin D (which is generated in your skin by sunlight), which helps to prevent osteoporosis, as well as colon and other cancers, according to some studies. Absence of sunlight can also affect your mood after a while: SAD, or Seasonal Affective Disorder. 

You can combat both of these by vitamin supplements and full spectrum light bulbs, but, let’s face it, it’s just better to get the real thing from Mother  Nature, if you can. About 20 minutes a day should do it.
 
My big problem is my wife: she hates heat and bugs–and Florida is nothing, if not buggy and hot!  Of course, right now is the very best time in Florida. The winter is pleasant, warm in the daytime, cool at night–just about perfect. Problem is, this doesn’t last but for about three months. Then, it’s really, really hot again. And humid. And it stays that way until next winter.
 
So until we can sort this out, we’ll continue being nomads, going back and forth, back and forth….
 
With all this travelling, lucky I can do my exercises pretty much anywhere I happen to be. The specially modified Hindu Squats are my mainstay, since I have chronic knee pain myself, if I don’t stay on top of it. If I get some aching due to overuse, or to a  specific injury, I like to do Hack Squats and Sumo Squats, generally with some resistance, in addition.  But that’s just me. Everyone is different, so it’s best if you have a wide range of exercises, from which you can choose what works best for you. 

As it so happens, my PAIN-FREE PROGRAM is just such a resource. These are the best exercises I’ve found in all my years of practicing orthopaedic surgery — ones  I’ve used personally, and ones I’ve found worked best for my patients, too. See what I mean at
http://drbillsclinic.com/exercise_eliminate.html
 
All of these are specially modified for those who have knee pain, and those who want to avoid it. Try them out.  You won’t be sorry.
 
Meanwhile, the groundhog reportedly saw his shadow,  indicating it’s six more weeks of winter, according to tradition. So, it’s back to Florida for me. I’ll  think of all of my friends stuck in the snow and ice, and try to stay warm for them. And soak up that sunshine, while I can.

All the best, my friend. Be well, til next time.

Yours for a pain-free tomorrow,
 
Dr. Bill
P.S. For DR. BILL’S LITTLE GREEN BOOK ON ELIMINATING KNEE PAIN, a concise, but complete handbook on the root causes and the various options for treating knee pain, go to http://drbillsclinic.com/eliminate_knee_pain.html
 
P.P.S. For DR. BILL’S PAIN-FREE PROGRAM: EXERCISES TO PREVENT OR ELIMINATE KNEE PAIN, please go to
http://drbillsclinic.com/exercise_eliminate.html
 
P.P.P.S. For the giant, comprehensive ADVANCED MASTERS’ COURSE: HOW TO ELIMINATE KNEE PAIN–ONCE & FOR ALL!, everything you need to know on causes and solutions for knee pain and the complete exercise program, too, go to
http://drbillsclinic.com/advanced_masters.html
 
FREE BONUS CD with any order: THE HEALING POWER OF POSITIVE PAIN PERCEPTION
 
Copyright, 2008 by William Thomas Stillwell, MD
All rights reserved