Joel Wallskog, MD | React19 Overview: Turning Negative Reactions into Positive Action

6 September 2022 | Joel Wallskog is an orthopedic surgeon who has been in private practice since 2002. After obtaining his medical degree, Joel completed a residency in orthopaedic surgery, and also undertook training specialising in joint replacement surgery. Since 2009 Joel has worked at Aurora Healthcare where he has developed a large successful orthopedic practice focusing on joint replacement. He has extensive experience in revision joint replacement and hip resurfacing. For many years, he has been on the clinical faculty for the Medical College of Wisconsin, training fourth- and fifth-year orthopedic surgery residents on improving their surgical skills.

Although asymptomatic, Joel tested positive for Covid-19 antibodies in September of 2020. According to CDC recommendations at the time, Joel waited three months after his antibody diagnosis before obtaining his first Covid vaccine, which was administered on December 30th 2020 and was Moderna. Within a short period of time Joel developed numbness, weakness and balance issues, and in the following months, he experienced periods of quite severe lower thoracic back pain. He was subsequently diagnosed with transverse myelitis with a demyelinated lesion at the thoracic nerve between 8th and 9th thoracic vertebrae. In spite of treatment with high dose steroids, intravenous immunoglobulin and physical therapy, Joel’s symptoms are essentially unchanged since his diagnosis in January 2021. Prior to this Joel enjoyed hiking, biking and numerous water-sports, but can now only walk short distances. Joel has also been unable to return to work as an orthopedic surgeon and has been on long term disability.

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