Peggy B.

I have had joint pain (hip and knees) for several years, that was controlled with cortisone injections for quite a while.  During the summer of 2018, my right hip pain got worse causing me to favor that side and then I started having more and more pain in my left knee.  I went to my orthepedic doctor thinking that I had really done something to aggravate the bursa in the right hip.  By that time, I was barely able to walk due to the left knee and the right hip pain.  Exrays showed what we already knew, that I would need joint replacements, but doctor also did an MRI on the hip and discovered that I had pulled 2 tendons loose from that hip joint.  He wanted me to get another opinion and possible surgery at a teaching hosptital since he had never encountered this problem.  I was not able to get an appointment until February of 2019, and the doctor felt that I didn't have time to wait.  He decided he would do the surgery, but I would need to have the left knee replacement surgery first in order to have a good leg to use during hip recovery.  I had the knee replaced on November 19, 2018.  After physical therapy, and after I was able to walk pain free without an aid, he did the hip surgery on December 17, 2018.  At that time we discussed the fact that he would not be able to replace the hip joint for 2 years.  It was a long recovery and not a complete recovery because he was only able to re-attach the gluteous medius tendon.  The gluteous mimimus tendon was too far atrophied to re-attach.  I have walked with a cane ever since.  Fast forward to the fall of 2020 when that rigght hip was really getting painful.  In November 2020 I went back to the orthepedic suregeon and he said it was probably now time to replace that hip joint.  Again, he did another MRI as a precaution and found that the tendon repair had failed.  This time he told me I would need to find someone else to do any surgery on that hip.  So, I went to Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN on March 5, 2021.  The doctors at Mayo told me that they could repair both tendons AND replace the hip joint all in one surgery and I would go home the next day with that hip in a brace that allowed me to walk.  The previous hip surgery had me in a wheelchair for 12 weeks before I was able to put any weight on that leg.  But there was a condition.  I would have to lose at least 50 pounds before they would do surgery because I had several other existing issues.  I had severe eczema, high blood sugar, high blood pressure, history of pulmonary embolism and I was morbidly obese.  They said they thought I should have bariatric surgery to help me lose the weight more quickly than I would be able to do it on my own.  So I contacted a bariatric surgeon here where I live and had the surgery May 6, 2021.  My hip surgery is now scheduled for November 8, 2021 at Mayo Hospital in Rochester MN.  I had no complications after surgery, and no pain.  I am so happy to be losing weight and have adjusted my goal since I met Mayo's goal of 250 pounds.  I am looking forward to being able to walk without the aid of a cane.  Next summer will be my 50th High School reunion, and I plan to dance, dance, dance while I'm there!