Patient Testimonials

Joint Replacement Institute > About Us > Patient Testimonials

Family practice physician Ronald Pinkerton, MD talks about his double-knee replacement surgery, performed by Dr. Schmalzried. Dr. Pinkerton's story

Robyn Benincasa is an extreme adventure racer, Ironman Marathon athlete, and firefighter. She describes her experiences before and after having hip replacement surgery, performed by Dr. Schmalzried. Robyn's story

Lifelong athlete and body builder Tory Riley discusses her treatment at the Joint Replacement Institute at St. Vincent Medical Center. Dr. Thomas Schmalzried performed knee surgery on Tory in 2010. Tory's story

At the Joint Replacement Institute, we feel strongly that by learning more about the surgical process and by reading about other patients experiences, you will feel more secure and prepared for the procedures you may be considering.

Select from the list of JRI patients below to read or hear first hand accounts of how their relationship with the Joint Replacement Institute of Los Angeles has improved their quality of life.

Peter J. Davidson

Bilateral Hip Resurfacing

Today I am feeling good. My bilateral hip resurfacing has been great and all that pain and suffering is like a bad dream.

I had pretty much given up on the idea of competitive tennis at the end of 2006. I had started to experience significant pain in day to day activities and tried a cortisone shot before the national 40s that year. I stumbled around the court in pain and figured I was in deep trouble. I had been doing the egoscue physical therapy regimen for that year since the pain had started in 2005. I tried changes in diet, vit

amins, food supplements, acupuncture and tons of Advil.

My father had both of his hips replaced and my older brother had one of his hips replaced with a THR a few years earlier. My body had that predisposition for hip trouble. I thought I had avoided those problems up until that time.

At the end of 2006, I met with a doctor friend who suggested arthroscopic surgery as opposed to a replacement. He did not believe in the resurfacing option, but he did think he could give me some more time with the arthroscopic alternative.

I had arthroscopic surgery on my left hip in March of 2007 and my right hip in May 2007. The doctor went in with 3 scopes and cleaned up my hips by taking out bone spurs, sewing back together some pieces of cartilage and also putting divots in my acetabluar or hip bone to promote bleeding and maybe grow back some cartilage. The recovery from these surgeries was tough as there was significant pain and very limited range of motion. I like to surf and was still unable to sit on a surfboard. The doctors put me on Volteren and I was able to move better but nothing satisfactory. Some folks seem to do well with that alternative but I wanted to be able to lead an active life including running and tennis.

At that time I was reading everything I could get my hands on regarding hip resurfacing. I regularly visited every web site and message board I could find. I found the most active doctors in southern California and found either Dr. Ball in San Diego or Dr. Schmalzried in LA. Fortunately, Dr. Schmalzried was closer, could see me sooner, took my insurance and was the best man for the job.

I did not want to be a guinea pig for the total hip replacement specialist and Dr. Schmalzried was able to do a bilateral resurfacing for me. It is generally recommended to find an experienced surgeon with resurfacing as the placement of the prosthesis on the femur bone can be tricky. I had the surgery on January 7, 2008.

The old pain was immediately gone. While the recovery from surgery was typically tough, my progress in walking and moving was very hopeful. I had attempted to stay in decent shape with the yoga moves I had learned from the egoscue therapy. Those physical therapy exercises were critical in my recovery.

Dr. Schmalzried said to just start slow in any endeavor. I told him of my goal to play in the La Jolla nationals and I attained that goal. I definitely recommend my doctor and the resurfacing option.

Active tennis, surfing and jogging are daily parts of my day with little thought of my hips. Occasionally I have a strange feeling but with a couple good yoga moves and I am back in alignment and feeling great.

Peter J. Davidson

Metal-on-metal hip resurfacing patient

Testimonial by Lance A. Rudolph, MD. I am now 56 years old and 5 years post metal-on-metal hip resurfacing procedure. I had severe arthritis of my hip and was no longer able to run or ride a bike. I still had the desire to compete athletically but no longer could. Sleep was difficult due to the constant pain and I was beginning to limp. I selected this procedure because I wanted a hip replacement that potentially would last a long time, spare as much bone as possible, have a low rate of dislocation and hold up to the tremendous forces I would put on it when I got back to exercising.

After an uncomplicated surgery at the Orthopaedic Hospital by Dr. Harlan Amstutz, I had my new hip and began my rehabilitation. This progressed rapidly from partial weight bearing with crutches to independent ambulation. I was back in the pool, deep water running, within a week and back on a stationary bike in 2 weeks. In 3 weeks, I was riding a bike on the road and no longer using a crutch. The constant pain was gone immediately although I had the usual post operative pain to deal with. This required several days of pain relievers but resolved quickly.

It took about a year to regain all the strength and range of motion in my hip and leg. In 2 years I was bike racing again. At this point, 5 years out, I ride 120 to 15

0 miles per week. I don’t run much but I hike once to twice per week for 45 to 50 minutes on the foothills. I still swim and lift weights 2 to 3 times per week each. The hip functions well. It is not a normal hip but it comes very close to it. I can stay on my bike for 4 to 5 hours without problems. If I over do it, a day’s rest and some ibuprofen take care of it. I have some intermittent discomfort around the hip which I assume is soft tissue discomfort and not coming from the joint. I sincerely appreciate being able to sleep on the side of the hip resurfacing, to lift my legs into the car without pain and a self-assist and just getting up in the morning free of hip discomfort and being able to walk without pain.

As you can tell, I am very happy with my surgery and look forward to many more years of normal function and relatively pain free exercise.

Sincerely,

Lance Rudolph, M.D.

October 21, 2004

Gene Nacey

Metal-on-metal hip resurfacing patient
It is hard to put into words how my hip resurfacing has changed my life. The surgery and time in the hospital was better than I expected; I needed less pain medication than I was permitted. The recovery went faster than I had thought it would as well, but I took my rehab very seriously -- never missing any exercises, and slowly but purposefully increasing my workouts each week.

Within the first year, I was back to snowboarding (no jumps that first year of course). Since I used a stationary bike during my earlier rehab efforts (after couch, floor and swimming phases), I began to enjoy the ability to spin a bike wheel. For the first time in probably 15 years, I was able to ride a bike without my foot slipping off the pedal. After spending a few months gaining strength on an indoor bike, I began to ride short modest rides outside. That was the beginning of a new "favorite sport".

Since that first year of rehab, I have participated in more than 10 mountain bike races, and my team and I took first and 3rd places in two 24 hour races. I have also begun road riding for longer distances, with my longest so far being 85 miles, with over 9,000 feet of climbing (I live in PA). This past summer I did a 7 day back country mountain bike trip from Telluride, CO to Moab, UT. I ride about 4 days per week, splitting my time about 50/50 between the woods and the roads.

In the winter, I get about 25 days of snowboarding in; as much of it out west as possible. While I like to hit the jumps, I won’t do it with icy hard landings -- I’ve got to have a much more "forgiving" stomp zone to even attempt it. I have competed in a few snowboard races, doing well in my age class, and last year I did my first "boardercross" race. I’ve also been enabled to continue with my first sports love – tennis. This is easily my best sport, having played in college at a high level. I have either won, or been runner up in my local city singles tournament for the last 3 years in a row. It is the only "impact sport" I participate in, and so I only do it during the summer months.

Finally, my vacations with the family and all things "mobile" have been enriched with my new hip. Our family loves to travel, and when we do, we love to hike and see the "hidden treasures" wherever we go. Two years ago (3 years after the surgery) I hiked the Napali Coast on Kauai, HI. This is rated as one of the most strenuous foot hikes on the planet – with a tremendous amount of elevation changes, and many areas of unsure footing. While it is recommended to do the 11 mile hike from the parking area to the ultimate destination of Kalalau beach in two days, my 25 year old son and I (I’m 49) hiked it in one day. We slept on the beach, and hiked back the next day. It took 9 hrs hiking in (lots of photo stops), and 6 hrs to get back. It was the most magnificent foot journey I have ever taken.

I hope you have "gotten the picture". Life is good in so many ways. I have thanked God regularly for Dr. Amstutz and the work his team did for me. His talents and insights are surely divinely appointed. I am born again physically, and words can not express my gratitude.

Aditional Patient Profiles:

Male; Date of Surgery: 5/20/99

49 year old machine shop owner from Michigan who had progressive osteoarthritis over 7 years on both hips. The patient is a power lifter who had previously bench-pressed 500 pounds. The patient underwent simultaneous procedures on both hips five years ago. He has been doing extremely well, has returned to power lifting and can squat over 500 pounds again. He also plays golf regularly, jogs and rides horseback.

Female; Date of Surgery: 4/27/00

30 year-old martial arts instructor in Wichita, KS with a specialty in Tae Kwon-Do. She developed osteoarthritis possibly secondary to an injury incurred in an automobile accident. She was disabled for 2 years until she underwent hip resurfacing. She has resumed a very high level of activity including resuming her profession as a martial arts instructor.

Male; Date of Surgery: 6/9/98

43-year-old ballet dancer and artistic director of the South Carolina Ballet Company from Columbia, SC who developed osteoarthritis in both hips. He underwent bilateral Metal on Metal Hip Resurfacing in 1998. He returned to performing ballet within 10 months after a vigorous rehabilitation program and continued performing for more than 3 years. He now confines his activities to instructing and directing his ballet company along with several hours of workouts daily.

Joe D'Amore
Hip replacement surgery patient

JRI patient, Joe D'Amore's impressions of his experience with hip replacement surgery are presented in this video below: