Regaining Her Life
After 30 years of working at a physically demanding job, Kathy Hendrickson was experiencing excruciating pain from what she thought was a back problem.
"It got to a point where I couldn't stand up out of a chair," said the Lindenhurst resident. "The pain was so debilitating, and only got worse when I tried to exercise and stay active."
Hendrickson made an appointment with her primary care physician who, upon learning that the pain had spread to the groin area, referred her to the NorthShore Orthopaedic Institute for an evaluation. An x-ray revealed that arthritis had severely damaged her hips, and that she would need two hip replacements.
"I couldn't believe I was in need of a hip replacement - let alone two," said Hendrickson. "I was shocked to find out my hips were the cause of my pain."
Rapid recovery
She met with Orthopaedic Surgeon Dr. Alex Tauchen, MD, who recommended an innovative, relatively new method for joint replacement surgery - the anterior approach. Dr. Tauchen explained that he would approach the hip joint from the front instead of the back or side, allowing him to cut between muscles without detaching them from the hip or femur.
As a healthy, active patient, and on the younger side when it comes to hip replacements, Hendrickson was a perfect candidate for a minimally-invasive surgical approach, said Dr. Tauchen, explaining that the anterior approach makes one small incision on the front of the hip.
"Essentially, this means less blood loss, less scarring, and no cutting through muscle tissue and ligaments, which may allow for a speedier recover," said Dr. Tauchen. "It's remarkable that these patients are able to return so quickly to activities that previously had given them such pain. We're giving them their lives back."
Noting that the surgery is not the best fit for every patient, Dr. Tauchen said NorthShore surgeons can determine the best surgical method based on the patient's anatomy and evaluation.
A pain-free future
Kathy checked in for her first procedure in February. She came home two days later, using just a walker. Within a week, she was walking steadily with the help of a cane. NorthShore provided her with in-home healthcare for two weeks post-operation, including a nurse and physical therapist who helped increase her mobility.
After an easy recovery and newfound relief from pain, Kathy was excited to get back walking with her girlfriends and enjoy her time between surgeries. But after realizing the pain in her other hip continued to hold her back, Kathy knew she was ready to schedule her next surgery.
Her second surgery took place three months after the first, and her experience was just as positive the second time around. By mid-June, Kathy was hiking, boating, walking, and working without any pain.
"Dr. Tauchen, changed my life," she said. "The pain had become so constant I didn't realize what a limiting impact it had on my life. I am able to move with such ease now and am pain-free - I can't thank him enough."