Hospital for Special Surgery Main Hospital — Local services in New York

Being a life-long New Yorker, I always knew that if I ever had a bone or joint problem, HSS was going to be my first stop. God, was I stupid! Their advertisements one said it was my choice whether to lead a life of limitations or to live life to the fullest. Well since i chose HSS to do my partial knee replacement with Dr. Stephen Fealy, I have known nothing but pain. At first he said it would take up to a year before the knee felt better. well its been over a year and whether its sitting, standing, going up or down stairs, or even walking for long distances or on the treadmill, there is agony. Every appointment, I complained of pain in the same spot and he just told me it would get better with time. Well now its over a year, and the agony persists. He barely spends 10 minutes with you. Doesn't listen. Rushes out before you're able to ask questions. I had to track him down in the hall more than once. And all this after keeping you rotting in an exam room for over an hour and a half (90 minutes) with no one managing your expectations as to when the great man might actually show up for your scheduled appointment.

Add to that since the nerve block Dr. Thomas Quinn gave me for the surgery, I can't feel my lower leg. What I know is my leg was fine. Dr. Quinn administered an epidural and 3 nerve blocks. I've never felt my lower leg since. The HSS neurologist confirmed the nerve has no electrical response to stimulation in the saphenous nerve -- one of the ones that received the block. None what so ever. I'll never feel my lower leg again.

So, if I really did want to live life to the fullest (and I did) I never should have come to HSS. Because now all I know is limitation -- pain in the knee and nothing below the knee. The doctors? Yeah, they don't care.

As for the hospital itself -- the presurgical testing, the pre-surgery prep area, the recovery area, etc. -- these were all extremely dated and cramped. They needed 2 people to do the presurgical testing. MSK manages to do theirs with 1 person. Even though I am less than 5.5 feet tall, my legs dangled off the exam table when they did the ECG. There was no privacy in the recovery area. It was a sea of chaos.

The one bright spot and the only thing that saves HSS from a 1-star review is the absolutely efficient and effective physical therapy program at 60th & Lex. My physio was excellent!

So out of a possible 5-star rating. + 1-star for the PT program at 60th & Lex. +1-star for operating on the correct leg and not amputating anything. For a total of 2 stars. No wait, y'all don't get rewarded for operating on the correct leg. 1-Star for your stellar PT and that's all...

Update: I’m changing my review from 6 years ago. I will start by saying that HSS has exceptional medical care/treatment for people who have suffered from a fall or an accident. Other than that if you come here for chronic pain management and you don’t fit their “criteria” , you’re better off going to another provider. I would suggest NYU. Don’t get me wrong HSS is great, one of the best orthopedic hospitals in the US. Athletes have come to HSS for surgeries and treatment.

My recent experience with the hospital was not a good one to say the least. I’ve done training for Medical Assistant. This being said, I know how to read reports, blood work, etc… I’m NOT a doctor. But my point here is when you know more than a provider you’re seeing, it isn’t good. If this happens to you, do yourself and your health a favor, change providers.

I came back here in October of 2020. Had surgery somewhere else, unrelated . I thought I was suffering from complications after the surgery. Pain was a nightmare. My doctor said it wasn’t related to the surgery I had. So I came to see a Rheumatologist and ruled out a lot before coming back to HSS. I have SI Joint Dysfunction which is painful and chronic. So I tell the rheumatologist I suspected inflammation of my SI Joint. She dismissed me. I then find a provider at NYU who accurately diagnoses me before and after imaging and yes she did find SI Joint Dysfunction. Severe inflammation causing the pain and other symptoms. At NYU I received “compassionate” care and was able to get treatment. And I wrote a civil/handed the rheumatologist her a$$ message on the patient portal.

I can’t stress this enough, please always advocate for yourself. Your health is important. Look at blood work, reports, ask questions, do research. I say this because it isn’t right when you try to voice your concerns to a provider and they dismiss you. Tell others, like family, and friends, how and what you’re feeling, symptoms , etc… misdiagnosis isn’t something you want to be dealing with because of some incompetent doctor. I hope this helps others.

Original review from 6 years ago

I was a patient at the Rheumatology Department @ HSS in 2014 in the spring. I left because there was a doctor whose bedside manner was horrible.. This hospital and the NP who brought me here in 2014 saved my life. Other than that doctor everyone else was professional, courteous, and empathetic. And their Physical Therapy Department is...

First time here,my wife had hip surgery. When we went for pre admission testing we were told that two people were allowed to visit . We were also told the same thing by security when my son asked as we were leaving. When the staff called with the time of surgery and what time to arrive. When the person told my wife that only one person can accompany her.I had to tell my daughter who came up from Florida that she had to wait for visiting today February 23rd only my daughter can visit. I had to stay home. This place is we ridiculous you aren't allowed to eat while waiting, if you wanted to eat you had to leave the bldg. They have a coffee shop directly across from the waiting area on the fourth floor. This shop sells muffins, candy soda and coffee. I could only buy a drink,why buy anything else if I can't eat it. So after 11 hours of sitting and standing because I'm handicapped and can't sit or stand for long periods of time I had to wait until I knew that my wife was OK and that she would be staying in recovery overnight that I had a sandwich that was in my backpack on the way home. This while employees were purchasing muffins and other edibles 🤣. I worked in a Hospital for 38 years and other than covid have never seen anything like this. Wearing mask I totally understand, limiting visiting to one person I don't agree with. The CDC lifted the limitations that were in place. Two visitors at a time should be allowed, with those two visitors able to come down and switch with others who may be waiting. I strongly believe that it is the patients who keep Hospitals running along with government agencies. Those pts. families should be allowed to eat in the waiting area or a cafeteria. They are stressed waiting for the outcome of the surgery and Handicapped making it difficult to get around. Sorry for rambling. Plus if I didn't ask why no one came out to speak with me about my wife's surgery, one hour after she was in recovery. I probably wouldn't have spoke to the doctor. When after seeing several physicians come out to speak with other patients families. I totally believe that my wife's surgeon had a long day as did I, stressed waiting for someone to come and inform me of how things went with my wife. Stay safe and...