CHILLICOTHE, Ohio, Aug. 5, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- Deciding whether to undergo surgery for hip and
joint problems involves far more than the pain you may be
experiencing. It's also about the ability to be fully present for
those special moments in life.
Just ask Cheryl Powell, who
underwent a successful right hip replacement performed by Adena
Orthopedic and Spine Institute surgeon Neel Patel, MD.
"I had a granddaughter getting married and I was actually able
to dance at her wedding," Cheryl said. "I cannot say enough about
Dr. Patel and how well I got along afterwards. A month to the day
after my surgery, I went on a cruise and walked and walked. I
couldn't be more pleased."
Cheryl's problems began when she started noticing pain in her
upper leg that then graduated to the back part of her leg and other
areas, reaching a point at which taking a step or trying to tie her
shoes was a painful experience. Initially, she pursued treatment to
manage the pain with the help of injections, but the relief was
only temporary. After a year of this, she decided her quality of
life had reached a point where a permanent solution was
necessary.
That's when she was connected with Dr. Patel, who discovered she
had experienced a total loss of cartilage in her right hip and was
suffering from bone-on-bone arthritis. Since she had already tried
non-surgical means to resolve her issues without success, Dr. Patel
provided Cheryl with surgical options and allowed her to make the
decision.
"Everybody's bucket for quality of life is different," said Dr.
Patel. "For some people it's not being able to work, for some
people it's just wanting to end that feeling of pain all of the
time. That's why I don't make the decision for surgery, my patients
do. I always tell people the time for surgery is when you say it's
the time for surgery, when there's more bad days than good and when
basic things like climbing up stairs to a bedroom become very
difficult."
An anterior approach, in which the surgeon goes between the
muscles to reach the hip rather than having to tear the muscles,
was decided upon in Cheryl's case. The same-day surgical procedure
produces some post-surgical soreness for a week or two because of
the stretching of the muscles, but the overall recovery time is
generally much faster and less painful for the patient than more
traditional approaches.
"I had very little pain afterward," Cheryl said. "For probably
the first two or three days, I took a pain pill in the evening, but
after that, I didn't need it. I didn't take Tylenol or anything, so
I was very pleased, and to not have to deal with a long hospital
stay, it was just wonderful to get back home and be in my own
environment so quickly."
Dr. Patel credits success of the surgical program to both the
professionalism and patient-first focus of staff throughout the
process from intake to discharge – including operating room,
inpatient and clinical staff -- and the way the Adena Orthopedic
and Spine Institute was set up to enhance collaboration between
specialties. In Cheryl's case, for instance, it was recognition in
pain management that surgery may be her best answer, followed by
staff in pain management reaching out to Dr. Patel that got her in
to see him so quickly to explore her options.
Dr. Patel notes that there is really no reason to continue
living in pain with the resources for quality care available
locally to help eliminate it.
"If you find yourself in a place where you just don't feel like
yourself and can't get through the day without thinking about the
pain – whether hip, knee, shoulder, whatever – it's always
worthwhile to talk to your primary care doctor or talk to us, we're
happy to provide consultation and see where the problem lies," he
said. "It's not always going to be arthritis, it could be something
else, but we'll figure out what it is so we can help you."
Cheryl, speaking from experience, agrees.
"After this surgery, I wondered why I waited so long," she said.
"Now, if something starts to go wrong with my left hip, this is the
first place I'm going to be. I wouldn't hesitate for a second."
To learn more about the health care providers and services
available or to arrange an appointment at Adena Orthopedic and
Spine Institute, visit Adena.org/AOSI or call
740-779-4598.
Adena Health
Adena Health is an independent, not-for-profit and locally
governed health care organization delivering on its mission,
"called to serve our communities," for more than 125 years. A
regional economic catalyst, Adena Health is composed of more than
4,200 employees – including more than 200 physicians and 150
advanced practice providers. With hospitals containing a total of
341 beds, regional health centers, emergency and urgent care
services, and primary and specialty care practices, Adena Health
serves more than 400,000 residents across nine counties in south
central and southern Ohio through
its network of more than 40 locations. Its hospitals include the
266-bed Adena Regional Medical Center in Chillicothe and three 25-bed critical access
hospitals—Adena Fayette Medical Center in Washington Court House; Adena Greenfield
Medical Center in Greenfield; and Adena Pike Medical Center in
Waverly. Adena Health specialty
services include orthopedics and sports medicine, heart and
vascular care, pediatric and women's health, and oncology
services.
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SOURCE Adena Health