After 7 weeks, my hand healed with a deformity, and I did not have full use of my hand. I couldn’t grab things properly, I no longer had a strong grip, etc., etc.

I went to see Dr. Robert Beasly who is known as one of the Best Hand Surgeons around. I showed him my deformed right hand and explained the injury and the treatment I received by the Dumbass at the Clinic I went to. He took X-rays and examined me. He said that I would need Surgery to regain function of my hand. This surgery would consist of a bone graft from my hip to replace the bone in my hand. My hand would have to be rebroken and the bone structure would have to be reconstructed.  This would be an extensive surgery requiring a long recovery period with therapy to try to regain Full ROM. I was slightly depressed to say the least, as this was not what I was expecting. But Dr. Beasly said it and I knew he was one of the best, so I didn’t think there were any alternative routes to take regarding repair. There was no rush to surgery as my bone already was healed, although improperly due to a previous Bozo of a Doctor treating my injury. (If I remember his name, I will post about this Moron.)

Well, after receiving the bad news, I said I have to go see Dr. Melone. I had not gone to see him previously because I did not have the insurance that Dr. Melone accepted, and I did not have enough money to pay for treatment. Because I chose not to see Dr. Melone (A BIG Mistake,) my hand injury was treated incorrectly, and now I was facing a Huge Surgery.

I made an appointment with Dr. Melone and they saw me almost immediately. They knew that sometimes my injuries require treatment in a timely fashion, but in this instance, the bone already healed and there was no rush. But they saw me pretty quickly because they knew I was distressed from the news I just received. I went to the office and X-rays were taken. I was then seen by Dr. Melone, who asked me why i didn’t come to see him originally when i first received my injury. I explained the insurance and money situation. Dr. Melone looked at me and said “How many years have you been coming to me? You’re a Frequent Flyer here. Don’t ever let that stop you from coming here to receive treatment (insurance or money.) We can always work those things out.

I thanked Dr. Melone and told him that meant a lot to me, and that it was extremely nice of him to say that. We got down to business and he explained the issues I had with the original injury not being set and cast correctly, and the present complications I had. I explained to him what Dr. Beasly had said. Dr. Melone’s answer was  Let’s see if we can retrain your hand to regain its original range of motion. We can always do Surgery if the therapy doesn’t work. But there is no rush to do so as your bone has already healed. If surgery is necessary, you would need a bone graft. But let’s see how the Therapy goes. Unless you’re in a hurry to do the surgery now. ‘No. I’m in no rush Doc,( was my answer,) No rush at all!!

I went to see the Hand Therapist. he was very nice and knowledgeable. I saw her a few times as I continued to perform my hand exercises at home, an addition to at the office. I then continued my exercises at home, as she saw there was progress and that I was doing the exercises properly. After a couple of months of Therapy, I REGAINED FULL RANGE OF MOTION OF MY HAND!!!!

I was so Happy. I thanked Dr. Melone and I thanked my Hand Therapist!!!!!

Dr. Melone thought that I can regain full use of my hand and he was right. I had Faith in Dr. Melone and he had Faith in me.

In closing, think twice about going to get treated by Dr. Beasly. If I did, I would have been VERY SORRY!!! I don’t know if he wanted to perform Surgery to get the Money or if he was just Not Knowledgeable in how to First treat my injury Conservatively. Either way, I would never step foot in Dr. Beasly’s Office  Again!!! And I don’t recommend you do either!!

I went to New York Hospital of Queens, and I was seen by the Hand Surgeon there , by the name of Dr. Lloyd B. Gayle. He seemed like a very nice Doctor, great disposition, etc. He was a Hand Surgeon, which is a Specialty, and I figured I was in Good Hands no pun intended.) He diagnosed me with a Volar Plate tear, and he splinted my finger. My finger was to remain Splinted for 3-4 weeks. I asked if I had Collateral ligament damage also. He said no.

I was not to exercise the finger and in 3-4 weeks, I was told I would have full range of motion. Well, 4 weeks passed by, the Splint was removed, and my index finger was bent approximately 30 degrees at the center joint. Dr. Gayle said that it was just like that because it was splinted, and that it would straighten out in no time. My finger was locked in that position and I could not straighten it out, no matter how hard I tried. I could close it though. My index finger was basically useless. I knew something was very wrong. I asked Dr. Gayle regarding the issue I was having, and he assured me things would work out. He gave me some exercises to do related to a Volar Plate tear.. After 3 weeks of exercise, I was not seeing any improvement. Finally after a few conversations, I realized that Dr. Gayle probably knew less about Finger injuries than I did.

I then called my Hand Surgeon whom I have seen for years. He explained to me that I not only had a Volar Plate tear of my Index Finger, but I also had a Collateral Liagament tear.

 http://www.eorthopod.com/public/patient_education/6566/pip_joint_injuries_of_the_finger.html 

 A Volar Plate Tear is not supposed to be treated the way it was by Dr. Lloyd B. Gayle. When a finger with a Vular Plate Tear is immobilized for any length of time, the ligament, which is under the finger reduces itself, causing the finger to heal in an abnormal bent position. I had to endure weeks of therapy, and eventually we got my Finger to a Normal Position. The second Doctor knew right away that my injury was treated wrongly. Actually, a first year Med student would probably know how to treat a Volar Plate tear. The treatment is in every medical book and journal. Now that I know what it is, it would take me seconds also to diagnose that type of injury, if it ever were to happen again, and how to treat it.  Dr. Lloyd B. Gayle, a Hand Surgeon, had no idea how to properly treat my Injury. He didn’t even realize I also had Collateral Ligament damage.  Luckily I regained use of my Finger again. And luckily I knew enough not to receive any future treatment from  Dr. Lloyd B. Gayle, even though choosing him was Mistake.

I highly NOT recommend Dr. Lloyd B. Gayle. I would not see him for any treatment whatsoever. If you do, you are taking an unneccessary risk, and you may incur more injury than you had prior to seeing Dr. Lloyd B. Gayle.

In the Health Plus Directory, he is listed under Hand Surgery, General Surgery and Plastic Surgery. He is listed as the Jack of All Trades, and in reality, a Master of None. I wouldn’t trust this guy to give me an injection. A Total Idiot!!!! And I would like to know how this Moron got his Medical License. Especially with the Specialties he is listed under. Maybe these credentials shoud be checked out.

I have been a Patient of Dr. Melone since 1986. He has “saved” my hands many a time. There have been a few times due to multiple injuries, where I did not have full use of my hands, and thru Surgery, but mostly Therapy, he has helped me to regain 100% use of my hands. In fact, I have been to his office so many times due to the frequency that I injure my hands, that Dr. Melone has called me a frequent flyer!

First of all, if you ever suffer a Hand Injury where you need to see a Doctor, DON’T go to an Orthopedic Surgeon, But go to an Orthopedic Hand Surgeon. When you hear the word Surgeon, that doesn’t mean that the Hand Surgeon Only performs Surgery, and it doesn’t necessarily mean that you will need Surgery.  I have known many people who have injured their fingers, and have ignored these injuries. Needless to say that some of these people do not have full function of their hands due to the negligence of not treating their injuries. They shrug it off and have gotten used to the less than optimal use of their hands.

If you suffer an injury to your hands and /or fingers, go see a Hand Surgeon to make sure of the type of injury you have and to insure you get the proper treatment. It may be that all you need is some rest, a splint or maybe surgery. Just remember that some injuries may need surgery in a timely fashion, such as a Complete Tear of the UCL  of the Thumb. You will know if you have a Complete Tear of this Ligament because you won’t have full us of your thumb. In fact, if the ligament detaches, you won’t have any use of your thumb! And don’t think that this injury will heal on its own, because it won’t. In fact, if you don’t receive surgery within a week, your original ligament will not be able to be repaired, and you will need to take a ligament from another finger and transplant it to your thumb. But your thumb will not be 100% functional as it would be if you got to the Surgeon on time to repair your original ligament. Don’t ask me how I know

And don’t think just any Hand Surgeon can successfully perform this type of Surgery. Why take a chance on this surgery not being performed correctly when you can be assured that if Dr. Melone performs it, it will be done the right way.

Not having the use of your hand may not be life or death, but it sure is extremely important to have Full use of your hands. I know what its like to have partial use, and then regain 100% use, on more than 1 occasion!

Btw, Dr. Melone is very conservative, and will try his best to treat your injury with therapy, if warranted. It may take weeks, but success is around the corner as long as you put 110% into your therapy sessions. Even when you think you will never regain full use of your hands due to some incompetent Doctor mistreating your injury, if Dr. Melone says that Therapy will give you back Full Range of Motion, rest assured that it will.

Now choosing a Good Orthopedist is difficult enough, and choosing a Good Orthopedic  Hand Surgeon is even Harder.

But just look in some of the Hand Injury Literature, and you will inevitably see Articles written by Dr. Charles P. Melone Jr.

Dr. Charles P.  Jr. is the Hand Surgeon to see, if ever have a Hand Injury. Do a little research on the Web, and you will see what I mean. Now go take care of those hands!!

See Here for the Biography of  Dr. Charles P. Melone Jr.