Lake Regional Health System | Thrive | Spring 2018

6 | Spring 2018 S pringtime is here. Are you ready for a new spring in your step? “Living life to the fullest is hard to do with constant hip pain,” says Lake Regional Orthopedic Surgeon Rick Walker, D.O. “A new hip can bring a new sense of freedom.” Each year, more than 300,000 Americans undergo surgery to replace an old hip with a new one. The surgery helps relieve pain and stiffness, allowing people to return to a more active lifestyle. Time for surgery? It may be time to consider surgery if you’ve tried other treatments for a bad hip, such as physical therapy, but haven’t found relief. Total hip replacement involves replacing the hip joint with metal, plastic or ceramic artificial parts. At Lake Regional Orthopedics, surgeons operate from the front of the hip. This is called the anterior approach. “It’s better in most cases because it requires less muscle and tissue damage than operating from the back,” Dr. Walker says. “And less damage means faster healing.” With the anterior approach, patients usually can bear their full weight immediately or very soon after surgery. They also can move more freely, with a lower chance of dislocating their hip. Get ready A nice thing about total joint replacement is it’s an elective surgery — which means you have time to prepare. Our free Total Joint Camp is a two-hour class that teaches you what to expect before, during and after total hip or total knee replacement surgery. You will receive tips from physical and occupational therapists, dietitians, and social workers, as well as education from nurses. “Our goal is to help you recover more quickly and prepare for an active lifestyle with your new joint,” says Mary Overman, R.N., a Lake Regional nurse navigator who leads you through the entire joint replacement experience — from preparing for surgery to recovering at home. “The camp also helps reduce the anxiety you feel before your procedure because you learn how to recover safely.” Life with a new hip Talk with your doctor if you think you may be a candidate for a new hip. If you opt for surgery, you’ll most likely spend one to three days in the hospital. You can expect to start walking the day of surgery. Though your complete recovery may take several months, most people return to the majority of their activities within six weeks. To learn more about hip replacement, call Mary Overman at 573-348-8120 . ORTHOPEDICS Rick Walker, D.O. into Action Get free of hip pain for a new and improved you