For years, I was a loyal HSS patient. For anything orthopedic, I never even considered going anywhere else. I had my surgeon; I trusted her, and that was that.
The MISHA Detour
Here’s the thing. Dr. Strickland never pushed me toward the MISHA. But she did tell me something that stuck: if I got a partial knee replacement, I’d never run again. As a runner, that felt like a deal-breaker. The MISHA seemed like my one shot at keeping the miles in my life.
So I went for it.
Unfortunately, it didn’t go the way I hoped. Every time I tried to run, the pain set me back for weeks. Instead of getting me back on the road, the MISHA kept knocking me down. The pain got severe, and I finally admitted to myself that something wasn’t right. (I will preface this by saying that some people have had great success with the MISHA. I was just one of the lucky ones not to.)
That’s when I decided to get more opinions. Not just one. I wanted a second, a third, and a fourth.
A Recommendation From a Friend
My good friend Madeline had gone to Dr. Joshua Rozell, the chief surgeon at NYU Langone Orthopedic Hospital. She raved about him. “He’s the best,” she told me. “I really think you’ll like him.” So I booked an appointment.
When Dr. Rozell examined me, he was straight with me. I needed a full knee replacement. That wasn’t easy to hear, so I went back to HSS for my third and fourth opinions. Both doctors there agreed with him. Full knee replacement. No way around it.
But here’s what tipped the scales for me: responsiveness.
With my old doctors, getting an answer felt like waiting for a letter to arrive by carrier pigeon. Dr. Strickland took forever to get back to me, and when a reply finally came, it wasn’t even from her. It was from her staff. Dr. Rozell? He got back to me himself, quickly, every time. That personal touch told me everything I needed to know.
I chose Dr. Rozell.
Surgery Day: July 13
The moment I walked into NYU Langone, I noticed how professional and efficient everything felt. No chaos. No confusion. Just a calm, well-oiled machine.
I met with the anesthesiologist, who was absolutely wonderful. He explained that he’d give me a spinal along with some medication to put me to sleep, so I wouldn’t feel a thing. And I didn’t.
The surgery was a success. They removed my knee and implanted a Stryker Triathlon knee. When I came to in recovery, the nurses were right there, giving me medication to keep the pain in check. Then they wheeled me up to my room.
A Room With a View
I have to pause here because the room took my breath away. I had a gorgeous view of downtown Manhattan and the Freedom Tower. Recovering from surgery is never fun, but waking up to that skyline made it a whole lot easier.
Now, I’ll be honest with you, because that’s what I always try to be. The first nursing shift wasn’t my favorite. I didn’t feel like they were as attentive to my needs as I’d hoped. But then the night shift came in and completely turned things around.
The standout stars? Hannah, my 2nd day nurse, and Debbie, the LPN. These two were terrific. My pain just wouldn’t settle down, and they made sure to get me IV pain medication that finally brought me relief. They listened, they showed up, and they truly cared.
Going Home to Merrick
By the time I headed home to Merrick, I had the right medications in place and a real plan for recovery. NYU didn’t just send me on my way, either. They sent me home with everything I needed: all my medications, a walker, a toilet seat, and even a cane.
On top of that, I got a lovely NYU bag and a cosmetic case filled with personal care items. Those little touches made me feel cared for, even after I’d left the building.
The Verdict That Surprised Me
Looking back, my experience at NYU Langone far exceeded anything I’d had at HSS. From Dr. Rozell’s responsiveness to the hospital’s professionalism to those wonderful night-shift nurses, everything exceeded my expectations.
If you’re facing a knee decision of your own, I hope my story gives you a little comfort. Sometimes stepping away from what’s familiar and trusting a fresh recommendation leads you exactly where you need to be.
Here’s to getting back on my feet and back to triathlon training!