I visited Dr. Thomas because of a sudden onset of extreme pain in my right knee.
I had been power walking 2-3 miles a day which came to an abrupt halt as suddenly I had difficulty even walking the dog.
Dr. Thomas sent me for an MRI and an x-ray and gave me his diagnosis.
He recommended immediate surgery to repair a torn meniscus which he says was the cause of the pain.
I decided to seek a second opinion and went to see Dr. Michael Miao bringing with me the original MRI and x-ray.
After examining me and reviewing the MRI and x-ray Dr. Miao said I did not need surgery and in fact surgery would not correct the problem.
He said I did have a small tear in the meniscus but that was not the cause of the pain.
He said that the muscles in my leg had atrophied and caused the knee to shift which was causing all the pain.
When I asked how that can be with all the walking I do he said there are different muscles involved.
Dr. Miao recommend rehabilitation to strengthen the muscles in my leg which sounded a lot better than surgery and it was.
After about 3 months of leg strengthening exercises the pain is completely gone and I am back to my normal routine.
In my opinion Dr. Thomas recommended surgery as surgery pays a lot more than sending a patient for rehab.
I am a 73 year old healthy male who has never had surgery and thanks Dr. Miao I cans still make that claim.
Advice: Get a second or even a third opinion.