In the 1990s, Marv Young’s knee pain forced him to give up
two of his favorite hobbies.
“I had to quit bowling and then I had to give up golf,
too,” he explains.
Chronic pain from osteoarthritis can limit mobility,
causing sufferers to stop doing the things they enjoy, and Marv was no
exception. Fortunately, in 1997 he consulted David W. Griffin, MD, a Fellow of
the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Dr. Griffin advised Marv that he
was a candidate for total knee replacement surgery.
“Dr. Griffin did my left knee in December of 1997, and the
right knee in March 1999,” recalls Marv.
“In the early Eighties, we would tell patients that a knee
replacement joint might last seven or eight years,” remembers Dr. Griffin, “and
that’s one of the reasons we often delayed surgery. Over time, however,
techniques and technologies have improved to the point where it’s a realistic
goal to put in a prosthesis that we think will last twenty-plus years.
“These surgeries are often done not only because of pain
but also because of lifestyle. In Marv’s case, not only has he gotten a good
result – he’s quite active and has been able to excel in a sport like bowling –
but also his knee replacements have lasted over ten years and he’s still going
strong. He’s an example of being able to restore your lifestyle and do the
things you want to do and maybe even excel at them.
“I can’t guarantee that golfers will have a single-digit
handicap or that bowlers will bowl a three hundred,” adds Dr. Griffin, “but I
can guarantee that I will give it my best effort.”
“A piece of cake”
As a matter of fact, Marv actually has bowled a three-hundred game since having his knee replacements.
“Knee surgery was a piece of cake, and I’ve been fine ever
since,” assures Marv. “I’ve had at least a one-hundred-ninety bowling average
ever since I’ve been back on my feet, and,” he confirms, “I bowled a three
hundred on April 11th, 2005.
“I recommend Dr. Griffin to everyone. I wouldn’t go
anywhere else.”
Back At the Ranch
“I’ve got sixteen hundred acres in cattle and a hundred
acres in citrus grove,” says rancher Bill Duncan. “It keeps my wife and me
busy.”
When Bill had a serious accident on the ranch, he
consulted Richard Steinfeld, MD, a Fellow of the American Academy of
Orthopaedic Surgeons.
“A while back, a cow hooked me in the ankle and her horn
tore out my Achilles tendon,” he explains. “Dr. Steinfeld examined it, x-rayed
it, and said, That needs to be fixed
right away. He operated on me that same morning, and I went home later in
the day.”
Bill appreciated Dr. Steinfeld’s expeditious treatment of
his torn Achilles tendon, so when knee pain from osteoarthritis required a joint
replacement procedure, he returned to the skilled surgeon.
“Of course, since he did an excellent job on my Achilles
tendon, when I had my knee replacement I went right back to him,” says Bill.
Right back to active
Using a wide range of nonsurgical modalities to relieve
his patients’ joint pain, Dr. Steinfeld and his colleagues work to reduce or
eliminate the necessity for invasive surgery. Conservative treatments include
pain-relieving injections, oral medications, and physical therapy.
“Many patients realize reduced pain and increased joint
function with nonsurgical measures and we are able to delay or avoid the need
for invasive surgery,” reflects Dr. Steinfeld. “However, in the event that
nonsurgical measures do not relieve the pain, or in cases where there is severe
degeneration of the joint, a total joint replacement procedure may be the best
option.
“Because Bill is a really active guy with a large ranch,
he needed to get back to his normal activities as soon as possible with a
long-term solution. Consequently, I recommended total knee replacement.”
Bill has been absolutely thrilled with how well his knee
replacement has worked out.
“It’s been about ten weeks, and I’ve got excellent
results,” says Bill. “I couldn’t ask for any better.”
In fact, Bill plans to return to Dr. Steinfeld later in
the year to have his other knee treated.
“The right knee is going to be done soon,” he says. “I
drive a little over two hundred miles round trip to see Dr. Steinfeld, and it’s
well worth it. He’s excellent.” FHCN - Michael J. Sahno