Pod Surgery

[Snowman065]

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generally speaking, how does podiatric surgery rank among surgical specialties with regards to difficutly/interest?

I have shadowed both surgeons and pods but can't imagine I will really understand what its like until 3rd/4th yr or residency. So I guess another way of stating the question would be to ask if you got to residency and thought "****, that is way more interesting than rearfoot surgery?"

I understand pod surgery may have a completely different style or skill set when compared to others like cardio or neuro. For example, I imagine pod surgery is probably more about biomechanics while cardio more about hand technique. I also understand there is probably a wide range of difficulty in all these specialties.

I also would be interested to hear your general opinions about doing pod surgery: do you like it? is it fun? is it tedious? Do you try and avoid it in your practice? Do you think 10 years from now you will be doing more or less surgery? etc.

 

[PADPM]

With all due respect to what "we do", I really don't think we can compare even our most complex cases with what cardiovascular surgeons or neurosurgeons do on a daily basis. These guys are really the top of the food chain with years and years of training (up to 7-8 post graduate years or more) and are called in for TRUE emergency life threatening cases at all hours of the day and evening. Some of these cases can take 8,10,12 or more hours. These specialists are dealing with life/death situations on a regular basis. Sorry, I love and respect what I do, but there is a difference.

To answer the other part of your question, podiatric surgery can be both fun and tedious. Many cases can be very challenging and when a complication or unique situation arises in the O.R., it's not always "fun". It should always be your goal to do what's best for your patient and place your ego on hold. That means knowing your own limits and remaining within your comfort level and skill level, or the "fun" will end very quickly.

 

[347932]

I love what I do. When I was in internship, I was able to participate in some very complex vascular surgery cases that I found interesting, but Podiatry is what I love to do. As PADPM stated, Cardiothoracic and Neuro Surgeons are on a whole other level. You could not pay me enough to do what they do. They have a level of expertise and commitment that boggles the mind, to be frank.

That being said, I don't approach any surgery as "fun" per se. Its part of what I do as a professional, and approach everything I do for my patients with interest and a specific thought process. I do enjoy certain cases more than others, but again, its all part and parcel of what I signed up for. As long as the patient is happy, I'm happy, regardless of the treatment protocol.

What I do particularly find "fun" is working with new materials and new technologies and having the opportunity to "play" with these products on saw bones and cadavers.

I love what I do for a living. I can't imagine doing anything else as a profession. Can you consider that "fun"? I'm not sure, but you can't ask for anything else in what you do. What's also interesting is that people who tend to really love what they do, seem to have the most success.

 

[Podman23]

I love what I do. When I was in internship, I was able to participate in some very complex vascular surgery cases that I found interesting, but Podiatry is what I love to do. As PADPM stated, Cardiothoracic and Neuro Surgeons are on a whole other level. You could not pay me enough to do what they do. They have a level of expertise and commitment that boggles the mind, to be frank.

That being said, I don't approach any surgery as "fun" per se. Its part of what I do as a professional, and approach everything I do for my patients with interest and a specific thought process. I do enjoy certain cases more than others, but again, its all part and parcel of what I signed up for. As long as the patient is happy, I'm happy, regardless of the treatment protocol.

What I do particularly find "fun" is working with new materials and new technologies and having the opportunity to "play" with these products on saw bones and cadavers.

I love what I do for a living. I can't imagine doing anything else as a profession. Can you consider that "fun"? I'm not sure, but you can't ask for anything else in what you do. What's also interesting is that people who tend to really love what they do, seem to have the most success.

As a 1st year student who is pissed off studying for classes like biochem/microbio/etc..... This is refreshing to hear

 

[347932]

As a 1st year student who is pissed off studying for classes like biochem/microbio/etc..... This is refreshing to hear

I'm very glad I can brighten the tedium! Take heart that it is all worth it, if you have the right outlook.

One thing I think you have to be able to do while going through the curriculum and in residency is to wake up every morning and tell yourself that you are there because you want to be. Not because someone else is forcing you, not because its what "you're supposed to be doing", but because YOU really want to succeed at this and enjoy what you do when you graduate and eventually go through residency and into private practice. Life is hard enough without having to worry about self doubt. Do it because you love it or what's the point?

 

[PADPM]

One additional point. Be happy with YOUR situation and don't constantly make comparisons to others. You can't look at a colleague or competitor and wonder why he/she may have a bigger home, drive a nicer car, take more vacations, etc., or SEEM to make a larger income.

You have no idea how he/she practices, what his/her business ethics are like, if there is "family" money, etc., etc., etc.

So just be content with your own situation and don't always believe that the grass is greener on the other side, or I can guarantee you will never be happy.