A Return to Life

Ruth Bernhardt-Kuehl, endured hip pain for nearly a decade, with her fear of surgery keeping her from considering hip replacement surgery. After discussing a new minimally invasive hip replacement procedure with an orthopaedic surgeon at Loyola University Health System, Ruth decided to face her fears and go for it.

Causes of joint pain range from conditions such as arthritis and transient osteoporosis (spontaneous bone pain) to strains and fractures. Contrary to popular belief, joint pain is not simply a condition of the elderly, but a condition that can affect anyone at anytime. With treatment options for joint pain that include medication, exercise and minimally invasive procedures, sufferers no longer have to live in silence with their pain.

Success Story

Almost 10 years ago, Ruth — a retired meeting planner — started experiencing sharp pains that occurred three or four times a year. Although the pain was intense, the LaGrange Park resident decided it was something she could live with and never sought the help of her physician.
 
“About five years ago, the pain got worse and occurred more frequently,” Ruth remembered. “The pain was so intense it was difficult to walk, stand and cook. When I had to give up the hope of a vacation to Barcelona, I reached my breaking point. I finally made an appointment to see a surgeon.”

Ruth went with the recommendation of her primary care physician, and sought the help of an orthopaedic surgeon at Loyola, who immediately put her at ease. Ruth was diagnosed with arthritis in both hips and was scheduled for a right hip replacement in August 2006.

Smaller Incision, Faster Recovery

In the past, hip replacements were done through traditional surgery that required a large incision — that cuts through the muscle — and possibly weeks of rehabilitation in the hospital. With advances in technology and surgical sophistication, patients at Loyola now have access to the latest techniques in hip replacement surgery, including four different types of minimally invasive procedures.

Unlike the majority of minimally invasive surgeries that are performed with the aid of a laparoscope (a thin tube with a camera that allows the physician to view the patient’s anatomy on a television monitor), minimally invasive hip surgeries do not require an internal camera. Instead, the surgeon uses small incisions and small tools to insert and attach the artificial hip components without having to cut the muscle around the joint.

When performing Ruth’s minimally invasive hip replacement surgery, the surgeon made a tiny two-and-a-half-inch incision, and proceeded to replace the ball-and-socket joint in her hip with metal components.

Ruth was a great patient for minimally invasive hip replacement surgery because she was healthy, motivated to succeed and not overweight. Like most patients, she was able to get up the same day as her surgery and begin physical therapy.

The Road to Recovery
One day after her surgery, Ruth was sent home to continue six to 12 weeks of additional physical therapy. A home-health nurse provided Ruth with follow-up care for 10 days and then she received physical therapy at the Loyola Oakbrook Terrace Medical Center.

“After listening to others who had undergone traditional surgery, I was expecting more difficulty moving and more pain,” Ruth said. “I was quite impressed with the way I felt after surgery, and I told everyone about it.”

Ruth completed physical therapy on her right hip within six weeks, and two weeks later had her second minimally invasive hip replacement surgery on her left hip. Twenty-eight hours after this procedure, Ruth again returned home.

“After being in pain for so long, I had forgotten what it was like to feel ‘normal.’ In fact, when it was time for my second surgery, I was excited,” Ruth said. “The second one went just as smoothly as the first, and I am thrilled with the results and care I received from everyone at Loyola. They gave me my life back.”

If you suffer from joint pain, talk to your doctor about the various treatment options available. To make an appointment with a Loyola physician, call (888) LUHS-888.

Locations and Contacts
A full spectrum of treatment for hips is available in Maywood at:

Loyola Outpatient Center

Services also are offered at the following Loyola sites:

Loyola Center for Health at Hickory Hills
Oakbrook Terrace Medical Center


If you would like to make an appointment or need assistance to find an appropriate physician, please call us at (888) LUHS-888.