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WatermanWellness
|
Winter 2015
3
ORTHOPEDICS
Fear
of a painful recovery, endless physical therapy and the general
inconveniences of a knee replacement procedure are enough to make anyone
hesitate.
Mike Ahearn, of Leesburg, knew these fears all too well after hearing horror
stories from his family and friends whose experiences were less-than-desirable.
However, after 33 years of wear and tear from serving on the Chicago Fire
Department, Ahearn’s severe knee pain sent him searching for relief.
His journey began after his wife, Dianne, read about
an educational seminar hosted by orthopedic surgeon
Donald Perry, MD. After scheduling an appointment and
performing a formal evaluation, Dr. Perry suggested full knee
replacements on both knees.
“In cases such as Mr. Ahearn's where there is severe, wide-
spread damage from arthritis, a total knee replacement is
typically the only viable option to achieve optimal outcomes
for the patient,” Dr. Perry says.
A custom knee joint was constructed before Ahearn underwent his first surgery
at Florida Hospital Waterman Joint Replacement Center.
“We used an MRI in order to get the exact measurements needed to create a
custom-built implant, which identically matches the anatomy of the patient’s knee,”
Dr. Perry says.
After a date was scheduled for the surgery, the couple attended a pre-surgery
joint replacement education class. This class is designed to inform knee replacement
recipients of what to expect before, during and after surgery, as well as instruct the
patient about pain management and other important topics.
Finding relief
After a four-day stay in the hospital, which included inpatient physical therapy,
Ahearn continued his recovery with 12 in-home physical therapy sessions.
“I was up and walking before I left the hospital and with minimal pain, just
stiffness,” he says. He also has significantly less concerns heading into the second
surgery.
“We try to make the experience as painless as possible with a highly controlled
pain regimen that begins prior to the surgery and continues throughout and
after the surgery,” Dr. Perry says. “A carefully calculated combination of anti-
inflammatory and pain medications, a judicious use of narcotics, and muscle-
sparing techniques used during surgery come together to achieve a nearly painless
experience.”
Ahearn wants others to understand that they shouldn’t let the fear of a painful
surgery stand in the way of achieving long-term relief.
“Find a doctor who you are comfortable with. I can now do whatever I want to do.
Would I want to go ice skating? Probably not,” he chuckles. “But I can run. I can jog.
I can ride a bike. It just takes a little getting used to when you get the new knee.”
An informed
decision helped
Mike Ahearn
kick the fear
of surgery
Parting
with pain
SIGN UP FOR A SEMINAR TODAY
Expert advice could be the first step to a pain-free life.
Visit
FHWatermanOrtho.com .Donald Perry, MD
Mike is now able to enjoy traveling
with friends and family after his knee
replacement.