David O. VanEenenaam, MD examines Patricia Thompson’s knee after surgery.
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Two Patient Stories
Patricia Thompson and Dominic Spano
“I just couldn’t believe the change,” says 74-year-old Patricia Thompson, who is walking
without pain for the first time in more than three years. “Before my surgery, on a scale of 1 to 10, my pain was a 10. I even used to leave family functions early to go home and rest my legs. Now I can go wherever I want again. My attitude is so positive, and my life is back to normal.”
About three years ago, Mrs. Thompson started experiencing pain in her knees. Over time, as the pain continued to increase, she was forced to use a cane to help her walk and to have periodic cortisone shots.
But the solution to her problem was just around the corner. Mrs. Thompson underwent
her first total knee replacement surgery at Samaritan Medical Center in August 2006 and her second this past December. “If I only knew then what I know now, I wouldn’t have waited so long to have my surgeries,” Mrs. Thompson shares. This sentiment is echoed by Dominic Spano, a 55-year-old who has been a heavy equipment operator for the City of Watertown for over 30 years.
Mr. Spano endured over four years of hip pain before accepting a challenge from his daughter. She asked him to walk her down the aisle at her wedding, but she had one additional request: he must be able to perform this task without limping or stopping to rest. Mr. Spano had total hip replacement surgery at Samaritan on May 12, 2006. Exactly one year later, he proudly escorted his daughter down the aisle and danced with her at her wedding – pain free.
“Before my surgery I couldn’t walk any distance, and work was difficult because I’m required to sit for hours at a time. I wish I hadn’t waited four years to have this surgery,” he says.
Patricia Thompson and Dominic Spano are not alone. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), every year about 234,000 Americans have their old hips replaced with new synthetic parts. In addition, more than 478,000 knee replacements are performed each year in the United States.
To learn more about total joint replacement at Samaritan Medical Center, email us at jointreplacement@shsny.com or call us at (315) 785-4504.
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