Three years after a bicycle accident that separated his left shoulder, 41 year old Michael Daher was still in pain. Therapy immediately after the accident was supposed to solve the problem, but the constant, aggravating pain remained.
Daher's active lifestyle--swimming, lifting weights, coaching youth football and practicing martial arts---made it even more that the shoulder problem be resolved. As a salesman for a medical malpractice insurance company, Daher works closely with the Broward County Medical Association, whose president referred him to orthopedic surgeon, Paul Meli M.D..
After X-rays and an MRI, Dr. Meli discovered damage to the shoulder's Rotator Cuff-- damage that was not originally diagnosed when the accident occurred.
"Dr. Meli's honesty was refreshing." Daher says "He told me exactly what was wrong, but he also told me he wasn't sure that surgery could repair the damage or alleviate the pain". " I don't know if I can fix it", Dr. Meli told me. " A lot has happened in three years and I won't know until I go in". Dr. Meli told me I could do nothing and endure the pain or try to have the damage repaired through Arthroscopic surgery. Dr. Meli gave me no guarantees, but said there was about a 50% chance of improving the shoulder and reducing the pain." Anything above 50% is a bonus, he told me."
The Arthroscopic surgery took place in March 2000. Dr. Meli repaired torn ligaments, removed bone chips and repaired the rotator cuff. He also cut back the clavicle bone because the accident had caused it to rub against another bone, adding to Daher's pain.
Since the operation, Daher has vigorously participated in therapy to rebuild the strength in his shoulder and arm. In August 2000, he had his six-month check up.
"The shoulder is 90-100% healed," says a rejuvenated Daher. "Best of all, I have no pain".