Dr. David Fisher
Orthopedic Surgery
Indianapolis, IN
41 years experience male
Locations
Ortho Indy
Indianapolis, IN
Insurances accepted
Aetna
Anthem BlueCross BlueShield
UnitedHealthcare
Humana
Medicare
United HealthCare Insurance Company
Aetna Life Insurance Company
Anthem BC Life & Health Insurance Company
Cigna
Ortho Indy
Indianapolis, IN
Office
Indianapolis, IN
About
SpecialtiesDoctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Doctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Orthopedic Surgery
Orthopedic Reconstructive Surgery
Doctor Q&A
96 Answers
4 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 41-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Fisheranswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
Holding steady: Alignment is one factor that can affect the long term function of tka. Traditional alignment tools work fine in experienced hands. Computer navigati... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old female asked:
Dr. David Fisheranswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
Depends on the cause: There are several conditions that cause avn. Corticosteroid use is the most common. Once the bone has lost the blood supply, there is a regenerative... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 58-year-old female asked:
Dr. David Fisheranswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
Bad fracture: Comminuted means multiple bone fragments from a relatively high energy injury. The greater and lesser trochanters are two anatomic areas on the upper... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 61-year-old female asked:
Dr. David Fisheranswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
Not increased: The risks for a total knee are not increased 9 months after a total hip. The general risks include blood clots, infection, stiffness, persistent pain... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 53-year-old female asked:
Dr. David Fisheranswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
Yes: If you have stage 3 oa, you have lost much of the cartilage on that side of the knee. If the rest of the knee is normal, there are options such as os... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A female asked:
Dr. David Fisheranswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
Possibly: If he is having pain he should see his surgeon and get an x-ray. It could be loosening of the patellar implant, fracture, or dislocation of the patel... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 57-year-old female asked:
Dr. David Fisheranswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
Exercise: After total knee replacement, exercises are needed to restore motion in the knee. These are started immediately and include stretching and muscle str... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Fisheranswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
Have a revision: If the implant is loose, it will need to revised. There are several causes for loosening. See a surgeon who does many revisions and your chances of ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A member asked:
Dr. David Fisheranswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
Resurfacing the knee: A total knee replacement involves removal of a few millimeters of bone and cartilage from the bones that rub together in the knee. The area of bone r... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Fisheranswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
Low risk: Dislocation can occur after a tha but is generally very low and dependent on the original surgical approach, femoral ball size, and skill of the surge... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old female asked:
Dr. David Fisheranswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
Revision needed: If the stem has become loose from the femur and is causing pain, a revision is indicated. This should be done by a surgeon trained or well experience... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 30-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Fisheranswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
Unknown: The type of nerve injury affects the recovery rate. Whether it is stretched, bruised, cut, or otherwise damaged affects the recovery. Nerves regener... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Fisheranswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
No: Implant costs are generally included in the procedure costs for the hospital. It would be unusual in the us for the patient to pay for the implant in... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 30-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Fisheranswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
6-12 weeks: Recovery rates vary between patients, but by 6 weeks they are usually 85-90% recovered with regard to pain, swelling, and function. The knee will con... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 59-year-old female asked:
Dr. David Fisheranswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
Now: It is best to exercise before surgery. It will quicken your recovery. The best exercises for tka are quadriceps strengthening with straight leg rais... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Fisheranswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
3-6 months: The recovery from tka takes several months. The most rapid recovery is in the 1st 6 weeks, when patients are about 75-80% recovered. They will exper... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 69-year-old female asked:
Dr. David Fisheranswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
3-6 months: The recovery continues for 6 months or more. The most rapid phase is in the first 6 weels. At that time most patients will still have start up stiff... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old female asked:
Dr. David Fisheranswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
Yes: Patients will often continue to have mild groin pain after a tha. It may be due to flexor tendonitis, a condition that can cause groin pain when you ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 57-year-old female asked:
Dr. David Fisheranswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
Irritation: Hip pain after tha can be caused by irritation of tendons, muscles, bursa, bone, or the joint lining (synovium). Most common location is groin, butt... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 49-year-old male asked:
Dr. David Fisheranswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
Yes: After knee surgery, the knee will ache at night and make sleeping difficult. It may get "restless" and cause muscle spasms in the 1st 2 months after ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 63-year-old male asked:
Dr. David Fisheranswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
Expected symptoms: Total knee replacement is a major surgical procedure and it takes time to recover. Sleep habits are disrupted for 2-3months, after effects of anesthe... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 33-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Fisheranswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
Immediately: The cpm machine was designed to get the knee moving after surgery. While studies have not shown any long term difference in total knee patients with ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 24-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Fisheranswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
Possibly: If you were a skilled skier before your hip replacement, you should be able to return to that activity after 3-4 months. You should stay within your ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Fisheranswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
Inform surgeon: Numbness in the leg can be a complication of total hip replacement. Various nerves can be injured and cause numbness in certain areas of the leg. In... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Fisheranswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
6 months: The most rapid phase of recovery is in the 1st 6 weeks, but full recovery from tka can take 6 months or more. The bone and soft tissue healing take t... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 43-year-old male asked:
Dr. David Fisheranswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
Soft tissue catching: Snapping in the hip can be caused by tendons catching on an object and then snapping back into place. This can be a bone or implant prominence that c... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Fisheranswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
Home exercises: Recovery after total hip replacement should be easy. Pain is short lived and can be easily managed with medications. The muscles quickly regain the... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Fisheranswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
Not necessarily: While 37 is very young there are some circumstances where a total knee may be indicated. Before considering this however, there are a number of other... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Fisheranswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
Very important: It is very important for patients to work on regaining range of motion and strength in the muscles around the knee after tka. Failure to do so will l... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 29-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Fisheranswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
Follow docs advice: You should follow your doctors advice for recovery and long term followup. It is important to return periodically ( every 2-4 years) to your doctor ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Fisheranswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
A few restrtictions: You may have a few restrictions in the first 6-8 weeks. Most patients can return to the activities they enjoyed before tha within 2-4 months. This m... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 79-year-old male asked:
Dr. David Fisheranswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
4-6 weeks: I will let patients enter a pool once the knee incision is healed. Walking in water can be helpful. Swimming can be started once the pain allows. T... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 53-year-old female asked:
Dr. David Fisheranswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
Surgical procedure: The knee structures have numerous nerve endings. Some of those structures are surgically removed during a total knee (meniscii, ligaments, bone, caps... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 28-year-old male asked:
Dr. David Fisheranswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
Joint inflammation : The synovial membrane is the lining of a joint and synovitis is inflammation of that lining. It can cause joint pain, swelling, and stiffness. When ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A female asked:
Dr. David Fisheranswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
Surgeon preference: It is possible to do both knees at the same time in some patients. Your surgeon may or may not do this. Staged procedures can be done several days o... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Fisheranswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
6-12 weeks: Most patients are about 90% recovered by 6 weeks after primary tha. At this time most patients are walking, driving, and getting around quite well wi... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 53-year-old female asked:
Dr. David Fisheranswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
No: It is very uncommon to fracture a leg during a manipulation. It would be most likely in a patient with osteoporosis or severe weakening of the bones.... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Fisheranswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
See your surgeon: This is potentially serious complication that needs to be treated by your surgeon. Depending on how long it has been present, this may require a surg... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Fisheranswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
You can't: This surgery requires time for the soft tissues and bones to heal. This process continues for 3-6 months. You can improve your functional recovery b... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 24-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Fisheranswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
Yes: If you were a competent snowboarder before a total hip replacement, you should be able to return to that activity by 5 months afterward. You should s... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Fisheranswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
Arthritis: A cyst under the patella (kneecap) will often develop as a result of articular cartilage degeneration which can occur with arthritis or other conditio... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Fisheranswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
Tylenol (acetaminophen): Arthritis strength tylenol (acetaminophen) is helpful. Vicodin (hydrocodone) is a narcotic and the chronic use of narcotics for pain control can caus... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 50-year-old female asked:
Dr. David Fisheranswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
Exam and x-ray: Surgeons are careful at the time of tha to equalize leg lengths. In some cases the hip will be more stable if slightly longer.
Many patients will fe... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 55-year-old female asked:
Dr. David Fisheranswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
Yes: If you have a urinary tract infection, you be on antibiotics to cure the infection and prevent bacteria from getting into your hip joint. If you are ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 53-year-old female asked:
Dr. David Fisheranswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
Depends: If there is arthritis present, you would probably do best with a total knee. You also may need a patellar realignment which can be done at the same t... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 33-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Fisheranswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
6-10 weeks: I restrict patients from horseback riding for 6-10 weeks, until they have regained motion and strength in the knee to adequately protect themselves.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old female asked:
Dr. David Fisheranswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
Multiple causes: Thigh pain could be from the femur or radiating pain from the hip joint region including the capsule and muscles.
If there is a cementless stem in th... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 29-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Fisheranswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
Yes: Pregnancy is not an issue to worry about after a tha. I have had many patients get pregnant afterwards with no problems.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A female asked:
Dr. David Fisheranswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
Maybe: Arthrofibrosis is a condition that can occur after tka (and other procedures) and results in scarring inside the knee that can cause stiffness and pai... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 57-year-old female asked:
Dr. David Fisheranswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
Several causes: Pain after total hip can be from several sources. These include bursitis on the outside of the hip, tendonitis inside the hip, synovitis (inflammatio... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
TestimonialsRecommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
Recommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
2
Recommendations
140
Thank you notes
HealthTap member
Mar 30, 2015
Dr. Fisher is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Mar 31, 2015
Dr. Fisher is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
This made me feel good. Thanks! Thanks for the info. Your description of the cause of the pain and that it will resolve was reassuring. Don't want to do this again.
HealthTap member
This saved my life. Thank You! It's been hurting;good to hear it might JUST go away EVENTUALLY!!
HealthTap member
Thank you. A friend is having this done, trying to get an idea about what she may need after...
Education & Training
Medical/Graduate school
Indiana State University School of Medicine
Graduated 1982MD
Medical/Graduate school
Indiana University School of Medicine, IN
Graduated 1982MD
Residency
Indiana University Hospital
Residency
Methodist Hospital
Residency
Indiana University School of Medicine
Awards
Top Doctor, Indianapolis Monthly Magazine
Humanitarian of the year, Arthritis Foundation
Top Orthopedic Reconstructive Surgeon , First Place, Indiana - Winter
2013
Affiliations
American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons
Indiana State Medical Association
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions, provide medical advice, write prescriptions, and more.
Answer emailed
in 24 hours or less