I first meet with Dr. David Raab in 2006 upon his then PA, Lisa Strada’s recommendation for knee pain. After reviewing the X-rays with the two of them it was inevitable that the knees had to be replaced because they were both bone on bone. The problem I was just put in charge of the plumbing at a large construction project in Chicago, the Trump Tower and could not take the necessary time off for the joint replacements. We came up with the solution that if we started a series of cortisone shots the joint replacement could possibly be delayed. Fortunately, the cortisone shots worked the project completed and both knees were replaced at the same time in January of 2009.
During my hospital stay at Lutheran General, Dr. Rabb and Lisa Strada visited me daily and provided me with the most unbelievable care and support. Dr. Raab insisted that I would be transferred to the Rehab Institute of Chicago in Elk Grove Village as an in-patient for about two weeks. The care, support and encouragement was all anyone could ask for. When I checked in I was on a stretcher and when I checked out I was walking with a walker, better than I could imagine. After weeks of course there was pain but it was a healing pain and end was now in site. The story does not end there.
I continued out-patient physical therapy at the IBIJ facility in Lake Forest where I did everything. Rode bicycles, climbed stairs, worked on exercise machines, walked with elastic straps, you name it I did under their watchful eyes and coaching. Six weeks after the surgery I was driving a car by myself and after eight weeks went back to work and started another major plumbing project, Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago. I couldn’t have done it without Dr. Raab, Lisa Strada and IBJI. All of the above was 11 years ago, I just recently retired at the age of 71, could NOT have done without them!
David Raab, MD, is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon and one of the founding physicians of Illinois Bone and Joint Institute. His practice is based on a comprehensive team approach to patient education and care. Dr. Raab utilizes advanced, state-of-the-art techniques in combination with ethical decision making to ensure exceptional orthopedic care for his patients. His strong commitment to patient safety and his warm and friendly interaction with his patients make them feel like family.