"Waiting as long as you can” was the advice that Dr. Lieberg used to tell his patients who needed back surgery. He tried to follow his own advice after sustaining a back injury lifting a patient. In fact, he waited so long that the pain became so unbearable that he closed his private practice and joined Interlakes Orthopaedic Surgery so his patients could have follow-up care. Waiting also caused permanent damage to his right leg.
With his 50th medical school reunion on his mind and an afternoon ahead of gardening and home repairs to keep his retired hands moving after four decades in the operating room, Dr. Olaf Lieberg reflected on having been a patient of Dr. Raman Dhawan of Interlakes Orthopaedic Surgery.
When Dr. Dhawan performed the Three Level Posterior Lumbar Fusion, Dr. Lieberg insisted that the surgery be performed at Geneva General Hospital because of the quality of care he would receive.
“I referred patients to the best and in my 40 plus years of medicine, Dr. Dhawan is the best spine surgeon as well as trauma surgeon that I have ever seen, and that includes myself,” said Dr. Lieberg with a smile.
Before the surgery, standing more than 10 minutes and sleeping was difficult because of the leg pain. Never one to be sidelined, Dr. Lieberg persisted until his spinal stenosis prevented him from “going the extra mile,” his mantra for a successful life.
One night in the hospital and a back support for six weeks was all the rehabilitation he needed. Dr. Lieberg was himself again and able to return to work as an orthopaedic surgeon, for another four years before calling it a career.
“My greatest regret in life is not thanking enough, all those who helped me get where I am today.” He hopes his gratitude to Dr. Dhawan is one way to demonstrate his thankfulness.
“The surgical care provided at Finger Lakes Health stands up against any place,” emphasized Dr. Lieberg. “Local physicians are under pressure to perform in a way that those at bigger research hospitals are not.”
Geneva General is home to surgeons who call the Finger Lakes their home. They live with the success of their surgeries each day as they walk into the grocery store or attend school functions and see their results.
“When I see someone with persistent back pain I tell them not to wait. Go see the best, Dr. Dhawan, and have it evaluated before it causes permanent damage to your nerves, like my foot drop from waiting too long. For myself and others, there is no excuse for delaying treatment with the excellent level of care so close to home.”
Today, as his pain is nonexistent, Dr. Lieberg will tackle projects around the house with the same zeal he had before. Age is just a number with a healthy spine.