"I went with Emory because I inherently knew I would receive great care from top flight doctors, and I wasn't the least bit disappointed."
Before I had my right shoulder replaced and a right anterior hip replacement, I suffered with chronic shoulder pain from two previous surgeries, as well as bone spurs and arthritis in the shoulder joint. My right hip was bone on bone from osteoarthritis. I couldn't lift my left shoulder over my head or across my body. It felt as if I had a pinched nerve 24/7. I had two previous surgeries while attending college for recurring dislocations. Over the years, I developed arthritis and bone spurs in the joint area. I coped with it by taking copious amounts of Advil. After a while I just learned to live with it as it became part of my daily life.
I initially saw a local orthopedic surgeon who, during my initial consult, advised me that he would be unable to perform the procedure I needed because there was so much damage to the joint area. This doctor advised that there were only two doctors he knew who could perform the surgery I needed; one of the doctors was Dr. Spero Karas from Emory. Dr. Karas performed my shoulder surgery at Emory University Hospital Midtown on May 5, 2008. Once he performed the surgery I told him I also had chronic pain in my right groin and lower back and that I believed I needed to see a hip doctor. He subsequently sent me to Dr. Thomas Bradbury, who performed my hip replacement at the new Emory University Orthopaedics & Spine Hospital on Oct. 1, 2008.
I loved both Emory doctors and would recommend them without hesitation to anybody who needs the types of procedures I needed. Both doctors "shot straight" with me with respect to what they were going to do, and what was expected of me post surgery. My hip replacement surgery was actually performed on the second day of the opening of the new Orthopaedics & Spine hospital. The staff really "babied" me as I was one of just a couple of patients. Everything was outstanding; after all it was Emory!!!
I now have a titanium shoulder, which works better than my shoulder has worked in 15 years. My hip is also titanium. I had it replaced anteriorally. This surgery, as explained by Dr. Bradbury, would be longer in duration, but would allow me to recover faster and be more active faster. This appealed to me because I am very active and like to exercise to stay in good shape.
I went with Emory because I inherently knew I would receive great care from top flight doctors, and I wasn't the least bit disappointed. In the near future, I will need my other hip replaced and I will not hesitate to go back to Dr. Bradbury and Emory.
The outcome of both procedures was beyond my most positive expectations. Previously, I felt like a 90-year-old man; always in pain and kind of grumpy. Now I can do things I haven't been able to do in a long time. I feel great and my daily attitude is so much better.
I can place my arm over my head without pain. I can twist my arm behind my back and I have no pain. With my hip replacement, I can now tie my own shoes without assistance. I don't walk with a limp or walk slightly bent over. I lead a very active lifestyle. I sold my business prior to my surgeries, and while going through rehab, I obtained my personal trainer's certificate. I now have over 80 training sessions a week with various clients.
I'd advise people not to wait for the surgery like I did! There is absolutely no need to be in pain. Once your surgery is completed, you will realize the quality of life you were missing.
When people come into the gym where I train, I always recommend the Emory folks to them. If they are suffering from knee, hip or shoulder maladies, I refer them to both Dr. Karas and Dr. Bradbury. They changed my life.
Mark Putnam, 49, Johns Creek
Personal Trainer
