Our Patient’s Success Stories

Dear Dr. Davidson,
It’s been exactly three weeks since you did my Osteochondral Allograft surgery on my left knee, and I’m feeling great! For so long I thought I would just have to live with the pain, but I honestly cant believe the immediate relief I felt after surgery, and am still amazed that I have not felt any of that pain since! Not only does my knee feel great, but my physical therapy is going so well, that I’m already walking without crutches.

I was really skeptical at first, to be traveling all the way from Southwest Florida to Utah, to have such a big surgery with a doctor that I had never even met. However, I am so happy and thankful that I did because it was the best decision I could have ever made! I couldn’t have asked for a better team of people to have on my side. I have never had a doctor that made me feel like I was his only patient before you. I couldn’t believe one of your first emails to me was on a Sunday night, and I remember thinking “Wow, I cant believe he took time out of his personal life to sit down and respond to all of my questions”. It is really nice to know that you care about each and every one of your patients, and any concerns and questions that they have. Also, Jennifer Meyer, your scheduling coordinator was so incredibly friendly, helpful and caring throughout the whole process. She made everything so easy for me; from the first email I sent her with general questions, to her follow up email after I returned home from surgery, and everything in between. It was an absolute pleasure working with you both!

I’m really looking forward to regaining all of my strength and getting back to a healthy and active lifestyle. The next time I return to Utah it will be to go hiking or snowboarding, and to show you how well I am doing! Thank you again so much, I am forever grateful for your help and for the quality of life I will have because of you!

Sincerely,

Mikaela C., Osteochondral Allograft

Dear Dr. Davidson,

It has been four years since I could ski and it was pure joy to be back at it again!! My knee pain stopped me from so many wonderful activities and opportunities. I’ve now started up skiing again, and am acting and modeling. You did a wonderful job and saved me from years of pain to come. I can’t thank you enough for letting me be a kid again. My mom tells everybody about what a wonderful job you have done, and I completely agree 🙂

Love,
Caitlin L.

I would like to share the journey I have traveled; and the success I have reached due to selecting Dr. Phil Davidson as my surgeon.
To begin with, I am a long distance runner and triathlete competing for over 20 years. My first accident was at age 20, training on my road bike when I was struck and pulled under a semi-truck.

As a result of the accident I had a broken pelvis, fractured femur, fractured ankle, rotator cuff tear, dislocated shoulder, and muscle injury in my leg. Nine surgeries and nearly one year later I was able to return to training and competing again. I attribute my successful recovery to the Feldenkrias Method, of which I have become a practioner.

During the winter of 2010 I sustained a knee injury getting off a chairlift. With some difficulty I was able to continue training and during that summer I competed in 5 events/races in an 11 week period: 13,16,13,26,26 miles. In the last marathon, my right knee cap was pulled off to the side, detaching most of itself. I could hardly weight bear following my finish of the Marathon. In the following days it was clear something was really wrong with my right knee/leg. Often when stepping, it would just buckle, and I had lost my ability to run. I saw my doctor who recommended an MRI to truly understand what has happened to me. Once I had the MRI, I scheduled appointments with a few surgeons. I always believe ( after 13 surgeries), it is best to get more than one opinion.

I was told by another excellent Doctor that I would never run again, and that I needed a full knee replacement. I left his office with my heart shattered.

Now, for the second time in my life, I was being told I could never run again.

Then I had my appointment with Dr. Phil Davidson. What impressed me the most with him was the following; his knowledge, expertise and ability to articulate the procedure he would do to save my right knee cap; therefore, hopefully making it possible for me to run again. While discussing the procedure, I truly appreciated him going into great detail and answering all my questions. He explained a detailed surgical plan which potentially included cutting the tibia to realign it. While I was not thrilled about the idea of cutting the tibia, I was grateful to him for explaining all possibilities to me.

But, truly what struck me the most was his genuine concern for me as a woman, a person, a runner, and an athlete. It wasn’t so much that he could do a “wonderful surgery” as much as his compassion. I’ll never forget at the end of my first visit how he sensed my despair. He encouraged me to take time to consider his recommendation feel ready for the surgery. He felt I needed time to be emotionally and spiritually prepared, and once I was ready, he would be happy to do my surgery. I left his office knowing when ready, he was the right surgeon for me.

March 7th was the date.

The surgery went super well and Dr. Davidson didn’t have to cut into my tibia. He said I did great! What I knew was that, he did great! I started Physical therapy immediately at home, then with Alpine PT as an outpatient. I had limited visits and quickly began rehab on my own. I was progressing nicely when at the 3 month post op visit Dr. Davidson gave me the go-ahead to start running. I could hardly believe it.

After 9 months of no running, now I could try to run again. That first try was on a treadmill…I was so scared. I got on, and began to run, I could hardly believe I was running again. It was so emotional for me I had to stop and cry.

Since then, I have continued to run 5-6 days a week. I began to head outside and mix up my runs. I found trail running up the mountains in some ways easier than the roads. For so many months I had not really put full pressure on my leg.

A few weeks ago I ran in my first, shall we say race, it was a 10k…I ran a 45…I was very pleased considering all I had been through. Now I am up to 16 mile runs on the trails and shooting for 20 miles this weekend. Yes, I did indeed run 20 miles this weekend from Deer Valley to the Canyons all on trails…What shocked me the most is I ran only 1 minute longer than a year ago………I guess I could say I have fully recovered.

To sum it up, I am beyond grateful to Dr. Davidson. He brought back into my life my greatest pleasure and passion in my life, running. Every day I stop on my run to be grateful for the wonderful life I have!

Thank you so much Dr. Davidson for bringing back my greatest joy!

Sharon S., Trailrunner, Athlete, Feldenkrias Practioner – 1 year following knee resurfacing and repair

While you were located in Florida, I located you after researching doctors on the web. Since I was too young for knee replacement, other doctors told me there was nothing that they could do for my knee pain. It had become so painful, I could not walk a flight of stairs without serious pain. After my first visit with you in St. Petersburg, I felt that you had the education and experience to help me. After knee surgery under your care I have no more knee pain!! Then, I received a letter from you that you were going to Park City, Utah to Heiden Orthopaedics. Knowing what a fine doctor you are, I was extremely excited for you and your family. Within a month, I had a serious injury with my horse after moving him to a new barn. The injury involved my right shoulder. Obviously, I contacted you to diagnose the injury, since I knew your specialty was in knees and shoulders. You were transitioning between Florida and Park City when I visited you in St. Petersburg at that time. Since you suspected it was a SLAP lesion, you informed me that surgery would be necessary. Without hesitation, I was on board to follow your practice to Park City, Utah. For me, it was exciting to travel from Florida to Park City, even though my family’s schedule would not allow anyone to travel with me. From past experiences, I knew that I would be in excellent hands. Your staff provided everything I needed to make my surgical trip go smoothly and comfortably. The driver, the hospital staff, your office staff, the after-care nurse and physical therapist were exceptional, friendly and professional. Of course the hotel, the food and the scenery were great as well. Thank you for helping to make my SLAP repair an exciting experience. Just to let you know, a year later, I have full use of my right arm!! Consequently, I am back riding and jumping “the horse”, doing advanced pilates mat classes, and beginning a new career using my right arm. Last spring, I enrolled in acrylic painting classes and found a new talent. My second painting (digital scan is below) is called Summer Window. The medium is acrylic on water color paper. It has been so well received that I have produced giclee prints and notecards. Thank you, Dr. Phil Davidson for giving me my “life” back. Wishing you, your family and staff a wonderfully snowy skiing season.

Sincerely,

Joan S., Active Florida woman travels to Utah for Shoulder and Knee Treatments – 1 year later

Dear Dr. Davidson,

I wanted to write and thank you for all that you have done for me. At age 35, I came to you with left knee pain and a history of approximately 10 surgeries. I still ran half marathons, hiked, snowshoed and Nordic skied all in pain. If you asked the last time I rode in a car for more than 3 hours the answer would have been a decade ago. I couldn’t sit through a movie or even a nice dinner. Even worse, I didn’t feel as though I could be the mom I wanted to be with my then 5 year old daughter. After hearing from other doctors that there was nothing I could do and that I would just have to wait for a total knee, it was so nice to meet someone who offered an alternative, patellofemoral arthroplasty. I traveled to Utah with my husband for surgery. You and your staff along with the surgery center made everything so easy. In two days I was back home to continue recovery and therapy. Three months after surgery, my family went to the Oregon Coast, an 8 hour drive. What would have laid me up for a week didn’t bother me at all. Since then my life couldn’t be better. I not only enjoy all of the activities I did before painfree, I can enjoy the “nonactive” activities as well. I never realized how much pain I was in and how my knee affected my life until I was pain free. I am incredibly grateful that I can truly enjoy all of the adventures a mom should enjoy with her daughter!

Thank you,
Al S. – 3 years following Patellofemoral Arthroplasty