Patient & Caregiver Resources For Back, Hip, Limb & Joint Pain From DePuy
SUPER: A DePuy Real Life Story
JOHN: My name’s John, I’m from San Francisco. I am retired, although I’m very active and very busy. I am an avid cyclist, I’m a crossing guard… It’s what I do. I have an exhilarating love for life, I have just an excitement at getting up every morning and thinking ‘what, what’s ahead?’ All my life I was always physically active. I was a dancer in theatre; rode my bike a lot. Slowly but surely, I started having hip pain just on one side. Throughout maybe two months, that hip became both hips and it became really unbearable. I felt like I was getting left behind. And I woke up one day, I went to go get out of bed, and… I couldn’t get out of bed. That’s when I called my doctor and told him ‘something’s wrong, something’s really wrong.’ I had to have both hips replaced.
SUPER: Received DePuy Orthopaedics Hips in 2003.
JOHN: After the surgery, it was really hard, but I’ll tell you, I didn’t have the pain I had prior to having the surgery.
SUPER: DePuy Orthopaedics Hips: A heritage of more than 40 years.
JOHN: But within months, I was back up on my feet, going to events. Every day got better and better. My friends were amazed that I was doing so well. I can go for long walks with friends, I’m able to ride my bike as much as I want.
SUPER: John: 8 years of Real Life Testing.
I know it sounds silly, but I’ve got a second chance. To anyone considering hip replacement surgery, believe in yourself, you can do this. I have to say, I feel like a new man.
SUPER: DePuy Orthopaedics Hips. Real Life Tested.
SUPER: Important safety information. Hip replacement is not for everyone. There are potential risks. Recovery takes time and success depends on factors like age, weight and activity level. Only an orthopaedic surgeon can tell if hip replacement is right for you.
Red Banner SUPER: For other Real Life Tested stories visit RealLifeTested.com
LOGO: DePuy Orthopaedics Inc.
never stop moving®
SCOLISCORE™ Patient
how bracing myself for a test, lead to my brace being removed.
Isabelle’s adolescent idiopathic scoliosis was first discovered when she was a young teen. Unfortunately, relatives on both sides of her family had experienced scoliosis, which may be inherited genetically.
Most of us have spines that naturally curve forward and back. But in some people, the spine twists and develops curves in the wrong direction—sideways. This “S”-shaped curve that goes from side to side and, in some cases, rotates, is a condition called “scoliosis.” In severe cases it can lead to disfigurement and physical pain.
Many cases of scoliosis are first discovered and treated in childhood or adolescence—particularly during puberty when the curvature becomes more noticeable. It affects girls more than boys.
Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis comprises the age group from 10–21, although the group at most risk is between nine and 13. Two to three percent of adolescents will experience idiopathic scoliosis. Of that group, 75–80% have small curves that will not progress.
Until recently, there was no way to diagnose whether the scoliosis curve would progress to a point where surgery would become necessary. So, scoliosis patients had to be medically observed for many years to chart the progression of the disorder.
Isabelle’s sister Camille was first diagnosed with scoliosis in elementary school. Camille had been seeing a medical specialist for about a year when her mother just happened to bring Isabelle along to an appointment. The doctor immediately noticed Isabelle’s posture when he saw her sitting in the waiting room and recommended that they x-ray her spine. Sure enough, Isabelle also had scoliosis.
Within six months, Isabelle experienced a normal, adolescent growth spurt. With that spurt came a noticeable increase in the scoliosis curve. The curve was now within the 20–40 degree range, and the doctor recommended she wear a brace 23 hours a day to try and slow its progression.
For many adolescent girls, wearing a brace can be psychologically devastating. At first, it didn’t bother Isabelle. She received a lot of support from her friends at school. They even named the brace “Shelly.”
But, when it came time for Isabelle to go to camp, the thought of wearing the brace all the time was of great concern. She was worried it wouldn’t allow her to participate in activities at camp, such as swimming and dancing.
Then Isabelle’s family was told about the SCOLISCORE™ test, a pain-free genetic test used to help predict whether scoliosis will progress to a point at which surgery may become necessary.
A saliva sample was taken at the doctor’s office and sent to the lab for testing. The results came back and Isabelle’s doctors were able to tell her within 99% accuracy that her scoliosis would not progress to within a surgical range.
This SCOLISCORE test result, along with all of her other diagnostic tests including x-rays, a physical examination, her age and gender, also allowed her doctors to recommend that she no longer wear the brace. She, and her family, were greatly relieved.
SUPER: A DePuy Real Life Story
LESA: My name is Lesa. We’re on our family dairy farm. My mom and dad started this farm in 1964. I’m probably the seventh generation dairy farmer. It’s not really a job; it’s something I love to do. I’m very passionate about it. We work 12-14 hours a day, 365 days a year. It is very physical. The knee pain started abruptly. I was kind of caught off-guard. When I was walking my knee was giving way and it just didn’t feel right. It was time for a check-up. And the doctor said my knees were in really bad shape. You know, somewhere along the way you’re going to have your knees replaced. So, I went to see an orthopaedic surgeon about replacement, and he said I would decide when the pain was bad enough. So for about a year I struggled with just daily activities. It was extremely painful. It hurt to walk. At night when you try to sleep and your leg is throbbing, and you know it’s not going to get any better ‘til you do something about it. They said “well you know you either going to have to change your lifestyle or do something else”. And I just couldn’t imagine my life not being on the farm.
SUPER: Ellie Lesa’s daughter
Ellie: It was really hard watching her work with pain all day long.
SUPER: Received first DePuy Orthopaedics Knee in 2003.
LESA: So I called them and I said, “I think I’m ready. I think I want to have my life back”. The rehab is so important. I knew that what I put into it, that’s what I’d get out of it, and the more I put into it, the better the results would be. When it came time to have my second knee replaced, I did not hesitate one moment. I picked up the phone and called and said, “it’s time to do my knee.” After my second knee surgery, I was driving a tractor all day long. I had to pinch myself almost, because I thought, “wow this is great. I’m back doing things that I love to do.” I don’t even realize I have them anymore.
SUPER: DePuy Orthopaedics Knees: A heritage of more than 30 years.
LESA: They’re just a part of me. There’s nothing I can’t do that I want to do. I feel very blessed. I feel like I’ve been giving another lease on life.
SUPER: Lesa: 8 years of Real Life Testing.
LESA: Getting my knees replaced allowed me to do my job, which I think is help feeding the world. When you get to enjoy something and do it, and love what you’re doing, it’s a great life.
SUPER: DePuy Orthopaedics Knees. Real Life Tested.
SUPER: Important safety information. Knee replacement is not for everyone. There are potential risks. Recovery takes time and success depends on factors like age, weight and activity level. Only an orthopaedic surgeon can tell if knee replacement is right for you.
Red Banner SUPER: For other Real Life Tested stories visit RealLifeTested.com
LOGO: DePuy Orthopaedics Inc.
never stop moving®
"Hi, I'm Mike Krzyzewski, coach of Duke University's Men's Basketball team. If you could take a journey to move better, live better, why wouldn't you? I did when I had joint replacement surgery.
"I'm here to tell you that you have two opponents. Pain and lack of mobility. Pain can get you down every day. Lack of mobility can lead to decreased speed and loss of endurance. With speed and endurance loss, you don't stay competitive and you spend energy just trying to catch up. But you've got to fight your opponents to stay in the game.
"I know it isn't always easy. There was a part of me that thought of stopping, giving up coaching altogether. I would never have won two Olympic team medals and four NCAA Championships if I hadn't had my surgeries.
"Now, I don't have to overcompensate for injury and pain. I'm more active than before, I have relief from pain and I'm even quicker on my feet. People say I look better now. Do you want your life back the way it should be? You have two choices, a continued downward spiral or take action.
"So don't let the injury win. You don't need to live in pain. That's why I want to encourage you to empower yourself. Get educated, develop a personal treatment plan with your doctor, build a team of support and commit to reclaiming your life. Remember, this is a major event in your life—treat it as such. What you put into it will multiply for you at the end of the journey."
May 15 2012 - 19:17:49