Back In The Water After Joint Replacement
July 27, 2020
Neighbors in a lake community in Martinsville, Indiana, Renee Hassfurther and Maggie Warren share many of the same hobbies. Boating, water skiing, gardening and spending time with their dogs are just a few of the things they didn’t want to miss out on due to knee and hip pain.
After encouraging conversations with friends, a visit with her nurse practitioner and a consultation with a Franciscan Health orthopedic surgeon, Renee proceeded with a total knee replacement in October 2018.
“Believe it or not, I went in at 6 o’clock in the morning and at 12:30 in the afternoon, I walked out of there on a new knee,” Renee said. “I mean, how much easier do you get than that?”
Meanwhile, Maggie was experiencing pain due to her hip and was currently managing pain with medication recommended by her physician. One night at their community clubhouse, Maggie noticed Renee walking with a cane and asked Renee how everything was going since her knee surgery.
Because of her positive experience with total joint replacement, it was easy for Renee to recommend Franciscan Health’s Center for Hip & Knee Surgery to Maggie. Maggie underwent her total hip replacement in January 2019.
When Should Total Joint Replacement be Considered?
Total joint replacement should be considered when:
- Frequent pain and stiffness that interferes with daily life, mobility and quality of life
- Conservative treatment options fail to provide adequate relief from symptoms
- A person is experiencing extensive cartilage damage and/or joint deformity
How Can Total Joint Replacement Help Restore Quality of Life?
Many of us worry about what things we may have to give up as we get older. This was a concern that Renee expressed to her joint replacement surgeon with Franciscan Health Center for Hip & Knee Surgery Mooresville. She was encouraged to have total joint replacement surgery while she is still active so she can continue to enjoy her hobbies.
“I didn’t have to give up anything,” Renee said. She added, “In fact, I gained some mobility.”
The recovery time after total joint replacement can look different for every patient. But, with proper, consistent rehab, each patient will start seeing the benefits of having their joint replaced.
“She was less than a year from her knee replacement, and I was less than a year from my hip replacement and we were both out there doing double slalom, which was really cool,” Maggie said.
Renee added, “It was like she’d never had it done.”
