Ice Picksto Independence for Patty
For Patty, a 74-year-old retired legal assistant and Tyler resident of seven years, life has always been about staying active.
Whether she was walking five miles a day or hauling 40-pound bags of mulch for her garden, she wasn’t one to let much slow her down.
But that suddenly changed on an ordinary Sunday morning.
I stood up off the sofa, and my left leg just froze. It felt like someone had put ice picks in my leg. I literally could not move.
What followed was a frustrating cycle of being told to tough it out
or take Tylenol.
Volunteering in simulations at a medical facility in Tyler, Patty knew what good care should look like.
After three weeks of seeing doctors who prescribed muscle relaxers and Tylenol, she knew she needed more thorough treatment.
She said she felt like she was receiving minimal direction and attention.
For weeks, Patty lived in a state of bracing
herself. Every time she stood up, she had to wait and see if her leg would catch or if the ice pick
pain would return.
I would stand there to make sure I didn’t have a catch in that leg before I tried to walk,
she recalls.
Eventually, a more thorough examination and an MRI revealed the true extent of the damage. It wasn’t just a pulled muscle or simple age-related soreness. Patty was diagnosed with advanced osteoarthritis.
Osteoarthritis is often described as wear and tear
arthritis. In a healthy hip, a slick layer of cartilage cushions the joint, allowing the ball
of the femur to glide smoothly in the socket
of the pelvis.
In Patty’s case, that cushion had worn away, leading to a painful bone-on-bone
situation. The added labral tear and the crack in the socket meant that the joint was no longer stable or smooth, causing the sharp, freezing pain that had brought her life to a standstill.
You can’t fix it, and you can’t stop it.
The only way to truly regain her mobility was to replace the damaged joint entirely through hip replacement surgery.
After several dead ends, Patty was referred to Dr. Seth Christensen, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon with CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic.
From the very first meeting, she knew the experience would be different.
He actually took the time to explain what was going on and why. I felt very at ease with him. He’s personable, he listens, and he’s incredibly responsive. If I have a question on MyCHRISTUS or a concern, I get a prompt response. In today’s world, that’s almost unheard of.
Patty was also intrigued by Dr. Christensen’s background as an osteopath. While many patients are familiar with the M.D., or Medical Doctor designation, a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine brings a unique whole-person philosophy to orthopedic care.
Like M.D.s, D.O.s are fully licensed physicians and surgeons, but their training places a special emphasis on the musculoskeletal system and the interconnectedness of the body’s functions.
I dabble in holistic stuff, so I liked that he was an osteopath. I felt he wouldn’t be as quick to just jump to drugs or slicing and dicing without looking at the big picture.
He looked at what I could do to help the process and how my lifestyle played a role. Most people don’t realize a D.O. has that extra layer of training to see how everything in the body works together.
Patty’s surgery was scheduled for late January at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital to utilize the latest robotic-assisted surgery technology.
Despite the high-tech environment, which Patty describes with her signature humor, noting the metal boots
and hazmat suits
in the operating room, the atmosphere was warm and professional.
The robotic system allowed Dr. Christensen to perform a minimally invasive procedure with extreme precision.
For Patty, this meant less trauma to the surrounding tissue and a precise fit for her new hip — benefits often associated with robotic-assisted joint replacement.
The staff was just excellent. From the nurses who stayed by my side to the anesthesiologist, everyone was joking with me and making sure I was comfortable.
You can’t do good work if you don’t have a good staff, and Dr. Christensen has the best.
Poster ChildRecovery
If the goal of surgery is to get back to normal life, Patty exceeded that goal.
After her Wednesday surgery, Patty was healthy enough to go home that same day. By Friday, she was already visiting Dr. Christensen’s office for a follow-up.
I walked in holding my cane, not using it, just holding it. The staff couldn’t believe it. They said they’d never know I’d just had surgery two days prior.
Her recovery continued at a fast pace. Patty joined a total hip replacement support group on Facebook, comparing notes with people worldwide.
She quickly realized her experience was exceptional.
While others were struggling with mobility weeks later, Patty was testing her range of motion with ease.
I can squat, I can bend, and I can bring my knee to my chest. I think the robotic approach and Dr. Christensen’s skill made all the difference.
I even had a neighbor who is a nurse look at the incision, and she was amazed at how clean and small it was.
Today, Patty is nearly pain-free.
She’s back to driving herself, grocery shopping and planning her next gardening project.
She has become such an advocate for the practice that she has already sent 10 referrals to Dr. Christensen.
I am like the poster child for how it should turn out. I’m walking, I’m bending, and I’m back to being myself. I would wish this outcome for everyone.
To learn more about what to expect after surgery, visit hip replacement recovery at CHRISTUS Health.
