| Former NFL Lineman Receives Knee Replacement Therapy |
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Former NFL Lineman Receives Knee Replacement Therapy at Heritage Village
As a member of the Philadelphia Eagles, Jim was fortunate to play with Hall-of-Famers Norm VanBrocklin and Sonny Jurgensen, and in 1960, was part of the Eagles’ NFL championship team. After a seven-year NFL career, he retired from the game in 1963 as a New York Jet. Having grown up on the north side of Jamestown, Jim was confident he wanted to return to his hometown. Upon retirement, Jim moved from Philadelphia back to Jamestown where he opened The Pub restaurant on North Main Street. Forty-two years later, he is still involved in the day-to-day operations of The Pub and his wife, Mary, still prepares all the tasty homemade food for their patrons. “I’ve enjoyed the restaurant business immensely,” states Jim. “Your patrons become your family and you have the opportunity to make lifelong friendships. Jamestown is a wonderful place to live and I am glad I returned to the area after my professional football days ended.” Sports Injuries With a contact sport such as football, injuries are a common occurrence. Just as in today’s game, knee, ankle, and concussion injuries were the most prevalent when Jim played. In Jim’s case, it was the constant stress on his knee joints from his seven-year professional football career, along with racquetball and running, that required him to undergo knee replacement surgery in 1999. After years of having his knees drained for relief, the pain had become unbearable. Jim decided that knee replacement surgery was his only option. “By age 55, the constant stress on my knees had taken its toll,” Jim states. “By the same token, I was glad I worked out and ran most of my life. I wouldn’t trade the benefits of that for anything.” However, in 2007, just eight years later, the knee replacement was failing and a revision to the knee was required. Revision knee replacement is performed when the original primary knee replacement has worn out or loosened in the bone. Revisions are also carried out if the primary knee replacement fails due to recurrent dislocation, infection, fracture or very rarely, ongoing pain and significant leg length discrepancy. The revision knee replacement is a more complex procedure, often because there is a The revision surgery, performed by Dr. Peter Robinson and Dr. Randall Swanson of Jamestown Area Medical Associates, was a success. After surgery and a two-day hospital stay, Jim was referred to Heritage Village Rehab & Skilled Nursing by his insurance company, Univera, for rehabilitation of the revised knee. The Rehab Experience At first, Jim, like many rehab patients, was a bit apprehensive to go to a skilled nursing facility for therapy. Mark Constantino, Rehab Services Manager for The Heritage Group, explains, “We have been working diligently to change the perception that nursing homes are only long-term care facilities.” He points out that in 2007, The Heritage Group admitted over 600 individuals to its three rehabilitation and skilled nursing facilities – Heritage Village, Heritage Green, and Heritage Park. Over 300 of those individuals (more than 50%) returned home or were discharged to a lower level of care following a successful short-term rehabilitation stay. This trend is expected to continue in 2008. “Jim has a great athletic history and the mindset that goes along with being a successful athlete,” states Mindy Lawson, Physical Therapist for The Heritage Group. “His toughness allowed him to persevere during rehab. He was willing to take the extra step at each therapy session and was very receptive to the guidance that we provided.” Occupational Therapist Aime Rizzuto adds, “It was evident that Jim was apprehensive to come to a skilled nursing facility for his physical and occupational therapy. I believe he was pleasantly surprised to find the therapy at Heritage Village was just as intense as he would expect to find in any other therapy center.” Jim participated in a minimum of two hours of therapy (both physical and occupational) per day, five days per week. He also participated in The Heritage Group’s weekend Restorative Nursing program to maximize his strength and endurance. Aime adds, “It is a testament to Jim's hard work and dedication that he succeeded with a speedy recovery.” The appreciation is mutual. “The entire staff at Heritage Village is excellent. They provide great service and I would recommend them to anyone,” Jim states. “I have been very satisfied with my experience here. They were all great motivators and pushed me to go beyond my limitations. When you are undergoing rehabilitation, you need that extra push to keep you on schedule and to focus on the task at hand.” Jim was a popular short-term rehab patient with the entire staff at Heritage Village. Many of them were star-struck knowing they were assisting a former NFL player. “It was an absolute pleasure to become acquainted with Jim,” states Maureen Winne, RN Unit Manager. “There were some setbacks in his rehabilitation, but like a true athlete, he persevered and regained his independence. Jim made a lasting impression on many employees and residents with stories of his NFL days. Football fans enjoyed the stories and new fans were created. The staff even asked for autographs and Jim gladly obliged. We miss having him around!” To learn more about Rehabilitation: The Heritage Way, including Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapy, contact The Heritage Group Admissions at (716) 484-6695. |
January 2008 - For Jamestown native Jim McCusker, playing professional football was the experience of a lifetime. As an All-American at the University of Pittsburgh and former National Football League (NFL) player, McCusker had the opportunity to travel the country as a college and professional athlete. Drafted by the Chicago Cardinals in 1956, McCusker, an offensive lineman, played for seven years in the NFL with the Chicago Cardinals (1956-59), Philadelphia Eagles (1959-62), Cleveland Browns (1962-63), and New York Jets (1963).