I am glad that I could share my story and hopefully inspire those that are putting off their hip replacement surgery. This is truly the BEST decision I made. Living in constant pain for almost 15 years I am so glad I followed through with the surgery. Only you all can determine when you have finally had enough of being miserable. My breaking point was when I could no longer do the physical activities that I enjoyed. I was constantly in pain, not to mention that I was in pain daily at work since I was on my feet all day as well.
I not only had hop pain but lower back pain and the pain from my hip also radiated into my left knee. Since the sirgery this is completely gone!! I have a new life!!! I can go and do the things I enjoy without having to stop and rest all the time because my hip was hurting. My liver also thanks me for not taking all that motrin anymore as well!!! My advice to anyone is just to go for it and get it done. Dr Trousdale is awesome as well as all staff at Mayo and Methodist! I feel so fortunate to have this facility so close to me!!

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I was there in March for severe hip dysplasia in my left hip along with a tear in one of my major hip muscles. I had been there before, for the hip dysplasia in my right hip, and it took Dr. Dan Berry, who is the best hip specialist who works with Dr. Trousdale, a whole year from when I first saw him in October of 1999 to October of 2000 to decide to do the hip replacement surgery. When I saw him in October of 2000. I cried happy tears when he looked at me, and said, “Can you stay longer?”

When I saw him in March. I was scared that he was going to send me back home after I had come halfway across the U.S. to see him. I saw Dr. Trousdale for a consult during my visit, and he agreed that a hip replacement surgery would be the best option for me. When he left the exam room to go consult with Dr. Berry. I began to pray to have the hip surgery done while I was there because my hip replacement that I had done in October of 2000 had held up really well in almost 12 years, and I was real happy with how it turned out. I knew that a hip replacement surgery would be the best choice for me the second time around. Waiting any longer to do the hip replacement surgery in the condition that I was in would be torture.

I cried tears of happiness when Dr. Berry came back into the room, and said, “OK Samantha. You win. We can do the surgery on Monday.” I actually cried later that night in the hotel room because I was so happy that I wasn’t going to be in pain anymore. I was admitted to Rochester Methodist on Monday March 12th on the day of the surgery, and discharged four days later.

When I had the hip replacement in October of 2000. I stayed at Rochester Methodist for a week, and then moved to the rehabilitation unit at St. Mary’s for two weeks before I was allowed to go back home. I loved the care that I got at Rochester Methodist both the first time, and this last time that I was there. This time I was able to have a hospital room all to myself. The first time I shared a hospital room with another female patient. It was OK, but it was hard at times for me to cope with.

It was wonderful having a hospital room all to myself. I had a great view outside of my window, and the room had been decorated to look more “homey” and “warm” rather than just tacky, sterile white walls, and yucky as most of the hospital patient rooms that I’ve been in, in my whole life, have.

I was able to sleep better compared to the first time that I had stayed there. Even though I had the constant stream of lab technicians, nurse’s aides, and my nurse coming into my room at all hours of the night to draw blood, and check on me. After the number of surgeries that I’ve had in hospitals. That was something that I had grown used to.

Since it’s now six months post-surgery. I’m doing great, and I’m happy that I’m pain free, and I don’t have to worry about my hips deteriorating on me anymore. I have two hip replacements, one on either side of my hip, and I’m back into my activities that I can enjoy doing again. I would heartily recommend going to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota for anyone that has a complex medical problem that their primary care doctor has a hard time diagnosing.

I remember when I was getting the contrast dye injected into my hip for the MRI scan (which really proved to Dr. Berry that I needed the hip replacement surgery). I was making small talk with the MRI technician, and we were talking about how much I love the Mayo Clinic since I had been coming there, and how wonderful the two hospitals were as well as no other medical care facility matching up to the level of care that the Mayo Clinic gives its patients.

She says, “Yeah, when the Mayo brothers first started this clinic. Their philosophy was that they wanted the patients to have the best care possible.” Kudos to Dr. William, and Charles Mayo for starting the best clinic in the whole world, and changing the lives of the patients who go there. I can imagine that they’re probably smiling in their graves right now if they could see how much their clinics have touched the lives of so many patients all over the world.

It has been almost a year now and I am feeling great! Able to mow my lawn and walk the dog without any problems. It is so great to be pain free 🙂

Delores Brown

I was scared to have the surgery. However now that it is done I am soooo much happier and can finally function normally again!!! I feel his pain. Tell him to take the bull by the horns and make an appointment in the orthopedic department at Mayo Clinic with Dr Trousdale. I guarantee he will NOT regret his choice. They are the best!!