Ertl Andrew, MD

Had a foot reconstruction. Very Very painful and to be expected as I have 2 big long incisions on my foot, and one in my calf. I am taking Gabapentin 3X a day for the shooting nerve pain which was awful. It helps during the day but at night the pain kicks in especially more even when I lay down. On the nights that the nerve starts shooting, my whole body is affected and it just about makes me go crazy. Now I start with 3 ibuprofen, and wait , and that never helps yet, so then I move onto 1 pain pill. Some nights that is all I need, but if the nerves start shooting and I can not handle it anymore, I need to take a 2nd one. Then in about 1 hr. it calms down and I can go to bed. My family sees what I am going through. I can not believe there are not other people who have gone through this and do not have all this pain. It has now been 5 weeks and I have 3 weeks to go before I get my boot off and then go to therapy to learn to walk again . I called for a refill on my pain and muscle relaxers and was told very bluntly by the nurse Rick, that the Dr. said this is my last refill and then I would have to use over the counter. I do try that every evening first. Do they really think I like going through this pain. UNBELIEVABLE! I am a person who likes to be up and about and keep busy. I have obeyed everything. That really got to me, so beware, if you choose this DOCTOR!! There are a few more things I could add, but won't. Dr. Ertl is a very nice Dr., but until he has gone through this and the nerves are so involved and the pain from the incisions, they have no idea. Maybe a phone call to ask me how I am doing instead of the blunt reply, no more pain meds. I do not take any in the day either. People need to know, and that is why this review is wrote. I could not find any. I did not like the UW Dr. I saw at all and that is why I choose Dr. Ertl to begin with. He explained everything very good I thought. They should be writing down everything one has experienced and really be on the up and up, and a little nicer. ***I HAVE TO ADD AN UPDATE.: DR. ERTL CALLED ME TONITE. H E TALKED WITH ME ON MY PAIN. SAID HE WOULD ALWAYS BE THERE TO SEE ME THROUGH THIS. HE APOLOGIZED FOR THE WAY RICK TREATED ME ON THE PHONE. IT WAS RICK IN THE WAY HE TALKED TO ME. IF YOU ARE NOT A PEOPLE PERSON, YOU DO NOT BELONG BEING A NURSE. I WILL NOT STAY WITH DR. ERTL AS LONG AS RICK IS THERE.HE IS THE ONE YOU ALWAYS HAVE TO TALK TO, BUT DR ERTL IS AS NICE AS I THOUGHT HE WAS. DR. ERTL IS GOING THROUGH PAIN ALSO SO HE UNDERSTANDS. I JUST WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW I AM SORRY I CAN NOT TAKE THIS DOWN AS RICK STILL IS NOT A NICE NURSE. Have to add an update on this. RICK called me on this and talked very pleasant and made sure we were on good terms. Now, if he has learned from this, he will talk with EVERY patient like this from now on. The surgery itself is hard on you and the effects from the boot and knee scooter is also bad. The patient needs all the help through this to make it through this. Thank you Rick for your changed attitude.