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Volker Schoeffl - What to Expect? (Read 6028 times)

Baldy

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Volker Schoeffl - What to Expect?
October 19, 2016, 05:43:12 pm
The NHS has been unbearably slow, and extraordinarily unhelpful with my long term finger injury so I've finally bitten the bullet and booked an appointment with Dr Shoeffl for November.

This is an injury that has lasted for over 2 years now, and been woefully resistant to treatment so I've come to the conclusion that spending some money to see 'the best' is going to be more worthwhile than seeing a bunch of pretenders over the course of another year.

I've not booked any tickets yet, so before I do...

Has anyone had any experience with seeing him or going to his clinic in Germany for treatment?

I'm not too fussed about the cost of travel as I've written it off as an opportunity to visit Germany - but I'm just interested to hear if anyone has seen the guy so I know a little more about what to expect.

Cheers for any responses.

BicepsMou

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#1 Re: Volker Schoeffl - What to Expect?
October 20, 2016, 01:04:40 pm
I have not met him personally but have heard many positive things about his competence in the local climbing community.

As I am based south of Munich, I would typically go to the local "climbing doc" Dr. Keinath who is the goto guy here, but for the Frankenjura gang it is clearly Dr. Schoeffl.

Good luck!

(Typo edit...)
« Last Edit: October 20, 2016, 01:17:22 pm by BicepsMou »

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#2 Re: Volker Schoeffl - What to Expect?
December 22, 2016, 10:04:47 am
My wife saw him after 18 months of being told her wrist pain was just inflammation by the NHS. He reviewed the existing scans and diagnosed torn cartilage and some fractured small bones in the wrist. She ended up getting some keyhole surgery from a specialist in London and it was all fixed and good to go within a month or two.

All in all a very positive experience, he was very professional and confidence inspiring.

Good luck, hopefully you get as good an outcome!

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#3 Re: Volker Schoeffl - What to Expect?
December 23, 2016, 06:45:41 am
Reached out to him a few months ago with an email describing my symptoms that had so far baffled everyone I had seen (chronic inflammation in some of my fingers, that didn't appear to be tenosynovitis or arthritis). He gave me a short but well thought out response and an invitation to come see him. Would love to hear your experience seeing him, as it's something I've considered.

What's your finger injury? I'm coming up on 2 years with mine as well and it has been stubbornly resistant to treatment as well. Just trying to return to climbing now after a 5 month hiatus but it's by no means healed completely.

Baldy

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#4 Re: Volker Schoeffl - What to Expect?
December 24, 2016, 01:17:42 am
I suppose a follow-up is warranted.

I went to see him at the end of last month.

Day one we flew into Munich and spent a day there - I couldn't recommend it - Maybe the English gardens are nicer in Summer?
Day two started with a train up to Nuremberg (and a visit to Cafe Kraft). Nuremberg is lovely - I recommend a day here.
Day three we got up early and got a short train to Bamberg and got a taxi to the clinic.

I screwed up and didn't have my EU health insurance card up to date, which seemed to throw the nurse on counter. For ease of appointment and for your nerves, I would recommend signing up for the free card in advance so you have it (even if it doesn't save you any money on treatment).

I had briefly spoken to Volker about my injury on Facebook prior to the trip, and when he came in he was efficient and didn't go in for a lot of chit-chat.

I explained what I had hurt, how long ago, and how I thought I had hurt it, and he gave it a poke before doing a quick ultrasound investigation.
He then wanted to do a flouroscopy (like a live X-Ray) to check the joint with another method and we walked down a corridor to do that.

After doing both tests, he sat in silence for about 30 seconds before giving his diagnosis and 2 possible treatment options. He talked through these in simple language, and explained the costs and efficacy of each procedure. I ended up going for a targeted cortisone injection to the insertion point of the collateral ligament of the DIP joint, and with recommendation to get a second in 10-15 days time. I asked him for a doctor in the UK who he might be able to recommend, but he wasn't sure, and said he would ask at the injury symposium for me when he came over the next weekend (unfortunately too soon for him to do it himself).

All in all, the trip cost me (and my gf):
~ £100 for flights to Munich.
£150 for hotels and AirBnB
£200 for treatment
£XXX in Sausage and Beer

I got in touch with him again to follow up on the UK doctor who was keen to do a follow up injection, and he put me in touch with a Mr. Waqar Bhatti who wanted to charge £835.00 for the injection, followed by a further £250 for the opportunity to be ripped off by such a pre-eminent gent  :wank: . Needless to say, I am pursuing other channels to get my meds.

Overall - I was very impressed.

Prior to this trip, I had spent two years bouncing around the NHS - seeing GPs, physios and 'specialists' - along with hours of wasted time driving back and forth, months waiting for referrals, and the same waiting for results, before being told that it might be best to wait and see if 80% function would be enough.

A 45 minute assessment in Germany, and £200 cost got me seen and treated by the best in the business, and I was out last weekend on the Row Tor circuit.  :strongbench:

For anyone considering heading over for climbing expertise - I would say go for it.
If you have the time/money/inclination to be seen by the best in the business, then I dont think you can do better than Volker.

I love the NHS and all, but f*ck me if it doesn't sometimes come across as a mess of red-tape with some clueless/apathetic individuals available.

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#5 Re: Volker Schoeffl - What to Expect?
December 24, 2016, 11:37:02 am
That sounds like a very positive experience - I'm glad you're happy with it and hope it works out well. Hope you find a cheaper place for an injection too!!

Out of interest, what was the alternative suggestion other than a cortisone injection?

The two investigations sound like a good method also - I'm hoping to get something similar through Bupa who I have insurance with through work so I'll mention them during my consultation.

Did he say the extent of damage to your joint and the possibly recovery time?

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#6 Re: Volker Schoeffl - What to Expect?
December 24, 2016, 12:25:36 pm
So it was really 2.5 treatment options.

First was the steroid injection. I had previously had 2 injections (into the joint itself) before without any real long term effects, but Volker thought a more localised injection to the insertion point with a smaller particle size (allows for a smaller syringe/better coverage) would have better results. He also recommended a follow up injection to try and sort it out for good.

The second option was a PRP injection. These are more painful since there is no anaesthetic in the injection. They are also more expensive.

The 0.5 of an option was - that if I still have problems going forward - to look into leech therapy. He did make it clear that there is not a great number of scientific studies into the treatment or mode of action, but he had anecdotal evidence from a few patients that have struggled with long term injuries, and thought it might be worth a shot if all else fails. :shrug:

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#7 Re: Volker Schoeffl - What to Expect?
December 24, 2016, 12:47:00 pm
The 0.5 of an option was - that if I still have problems going forward - to look into leech therapy. He did make it clear that there is not a great number of scientific studies into the treatment or mode of action, but he had anecdotal evidence from a few patients that have struggled with long term injuries, and thought it might be worth a shot if all else fails. :shrug:

Leech therapy?


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#8 Re: Volker Schoeffl - What to Expect?
December 24, 2016, 05:43:38 pm
That's the one!

I've already got the leggings - just hoping for a fetching yellow vest for Christmas now.

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#9 Re: Volker Schoeffl - What to Expect?
December 26, 2016, 08:50:38 pm
I am currently dealing with a finger injury that no one can seem to figure out what it is and after reading this I am considering booking appointment with Volker . 
Out of curiosity what was the diagnosis on the injury?

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#10 Re: Volker Schoeffl - What to Expect?
December 28, 2016, 10:46:50 pm
He thought that it was an injury to the insertion point of the collateral ligament at the DIP joint of my little finger.

Previous treatments had been injected into the DIP joint capsule, he felt that a more localised injection would prove more effective.

I just had my second injection and will follow up with the results in a couple of weeks once the inflammation has gone down again.

 

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