Testimonials
A retired RN, Nancy volunteers four days a week as a part-time assistant at a local orthopedic clinic. While there, she noticed her hip pain was getting gradually worse, and coping was getting more and more difficult. She realized that her quality of life was suffering, too. “You do what works for you. You plan your whole life around how far you have to walk, where you have to go. You end up not doing things because it’s just too hard. But not doing things, that gets old.”
Nancy tried all the treatments her doctors recommended to her. She did all types of therapy, including cortisone injections. Finally, she just couldn’t take the pain. As Nancy puts it, “you have so much pain you’re just ready to do it. You reach the point of no return.”
That’s when Nancy scheduled her surgery. She went in for a total hip replacement in January and spent two weeks in a rehab center before deciding that home was the best place to continue her healing.
In less than seven weeks after her surgery, Nancy was back at the clinic—to resume her volunteer work. She was even going up and down the stairs in her home without any pain. “Everything’s easier. The biggest thing is I don’t have the pain. I’m driving and walking. I’m ready to throw the cane away. I’ve had wonderful results.” Nancy is driving herself to work and her therapy appointments without any problems—or pain.
She also reports that she’s one of many successful cases. “My experience seems very comparable to other patients at the clinic.”
It’s easy to see why Nancy is happy to answer questions or assure others who are considering joint replacement surgery. “Your quality of life improves so much. I would encourage anyone to do it. With the surgery, you have a chance to get better and feel better. You’d be crazy not to do it.”
Nancy should know. After all, she’s both a nurse and a patient.