| Short-Term Rehab at The Heritage Group |
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by Chris Anderson, Marketing Manager
Hip and Knee Replacement Surgery Knee replacement surgery is a procedure in which a doctor surgically removes a painful knee joint and replaces it with an artificial joint. The procedure is relatively routine. Once under anesthesia, an eight to twelve-inch incision is made in the front of the knee. The damaged part of the joint is removed from the surface of the bones, and the surfaces are then shaped to hold a metal or plastic artificial joint. The artificial joint is attached to the thigh bone, shin and knee cap with cement. When fit together, the attached artificial parts form the joint, relying on the surrounding muscles and ligaments for support and function of the knee. Knee replacements generally last twenty years. Hip replacement surgery can be more intensive than knee replacement surgery. The doctor surgically removes a painful hip joint and replaces it with an artificial joint. Once under anesthesia, the doctor will make an incision along the side of the hip and move the muscles connected to the top of the thighbone to expose the hip joint. The ball portion of the joint is then removed by cutting the thighbone with a surgical saw. The artificial joint is attached to the thighbone using cement that allows the remaining bone to attach to the new joint. The surface of the hipbone is then prepared by removing any damaged cartilage and attaching the replacement socket portion to the hipbone. The new ball portion of the thighbone is inserted into the socket portion of the hip. The doctor reattaches the muscles and closes the incision. Hip replacements can last twenty-five years. Knee Replacement Success Story Edwin Anderson, a Jamestown resident and surgical patient of Dr. Randall Swanson (Jamestown Area Medical Associates), was your typical exercise fanatic. He would run five miles a day and participate in numerous athletic events. Although running helped Ed maintain a healthy lifestyle, the stress on his knee joints took its toll. It was only a matter of time before he concluded that double knee replacement would be the only option to reduce the constant pain he endured. “My entire life, I was constantly on my feet,” explains Mr. Anderson. “Over a number of years, the knee pain became progressively worse. I had been visiting Dr. Swanson for the last thirty years because of constant knee discomfort and progressive arthritis. When my hips and back started to deteriorate, I consulted with Dr. Swanson and decided that double knee replacement surgery was the only option to alleviate my pain. If I didn’t do something soon, I would have had more serious problems to deal with in the future.” Dr. Swanson states, “Mr. Anderson was a candidate for knee replacement surgery due to advanced degenerative arthritis which led to pain and a loss of motion in both his knees. After his successful surgery, I anticipated Mr. Anderson making a full recovery and returning to work and normal activities in three months.” Ed explains, “Dr. Swanson is an excellent surgeon and truly cares about his patients. I trusted his experience and had no doubts as to his ability to perform a successful surgery.” After the surgery at WCA Hospital, Ed was in need of short-term rehabilitation to help him regain knee function and strength. After learning his medical insurance would only cover a portion of his rehabilitation at a local clinic, Ed was referred to Mary Lou Clark, Director of Admissions for The Heritage Group. After a brief discussion and the realization that the short-term therapy would be covered in full by his medical insurance, it was apparent that one of The Heritage Group’s rehab and skilled nursing facilities would be ideal for Ed. During a ten-day stay at Heritage Green Rehab & Skilled Nursing (Greenhurst), Ed made incredible progress. Working with Physical Therapist Karen Bower, he motivated himself to work as hard as he could. Karen states with a proud smile, “Ed recovered very fast. The key to his recovery was his internal motivation and drive to regain his mobility. He learned the therapy routine very quickly and reached a point where he was able to perform many therapy exercises on his own.” The appreciation and respect goes both ways. “I had no clue what to expect coming into rehab,” states Ed. “The therapy and nursing staff at Heritage Green are very professional and give you the individual attention you deserve. It may sound funny, but I miss the therapy experience. I eagerly anticipated my therapy sessions every morning. I was blessed to be able to meet so many wonderful people. I would recommend Heritage Green to anyone.” The successful rehabilitation is a testament to Ed’s motivation and perseverance to get better. This was amazingly evident only five short weeks after surgery as Ed walked back into Heritage Green on his brand new knees without assistance. Hip Replacement Success Story Donya Moore, a Jamestown resident and patient of Dr. James Fitzgerald (Lakeshore Orthopedic Group, Dunkirk), had to endure constant pain in her left hip before deciding it was time to have hip replacement surgery. Donya works as a molder machinist at Fancher Chair in Falconer. As you can imagine, her job requires constant standing and repetitive motions. Donya explains, “For many years, I experienced severe pain in my left hip. The pain became so unbearable, that I was forced to use a cane to help reduce my pain. It was a tough decision for me to undergo surgery, but it soon became apparent it was my only option. Most of the cartilage in my left hip had worn away and Dr. Fitzgerald strongly recommend hip replacement to improve my quality of life.” Dr. Fitzgerald performed Donya’s surgery at Brooks Memorial Hospital (Dunkirk). After successful surgery, the discharge coordinator at Brooks Memorial Hospital suggested short-term rehab therapy at Heritage Village Rehab & Skilled Nursing (Gerry). Heritage Village made sense as it could meet her needs and it was close to home. Aime Rizzuto, the Occupational Therapist at Heritage Village who worked with Donya, states, “It was essential for Donya to achieve her prior level of function as soon as possible. She is young and healthy with a family at home and a full-time career. Donya actively participated in therapy two hours a day performing both occupational and physical therapy exercises. She was able to grasp how to use lower body adaptive dressing equipment quickly and carried over these skills in her private room during her stay at Heritage Village.” Mindy Lawson, Physical Therapist at Heritage Village, also had the opportunity to work with Donya during her short-term rehabilitation. Mindy states, “Donya was a prime candidate for the total hip replacement procedure. She was enthusiastic and positive about her rehabilitation. She performed all therapeutic exercise with 100% effort, which greatly helped in her ability to make functional gains. Her upbeat demeanor and dedication at each physical therapy session paid off with a quick and ideal rehabilitation stay.” Many times, short-term rehabilitation patients are skeptical about coming into a nursing home to receive rehabilitative services. Most people are unaware this service is available in a nursing home setting. Donya explains further, “When I learned I would be discharged to a nursing home to receive therapy, I was a bit apprehensive. Many people don’t understand that facilities, such as Heritage Village Rehab & Skilled Nursing, offer short-term rehabilitation services and place an emphasis on promoting return to normal function.” Nursing homes are no longer a place where people go to spend their last years. Donya adds, “In my case, Heritage Village was able to offer short-term targeted rehabilitation close to home. I had heard so many good things about this organization from others in the community, and the therapy staff at Heritage Village confirmed that reputation. Aime and Mindy were very encouraging and helped me reach my ultimate goal of going home in one week. I would refer anyone to Heritage Village who needs short-term rehabilitation.”
The Heritage Group offers short-term rehabilitation at Heritage Green (Greenhurst), Heritage Village (Gerry) and Heritage Park (Jamestown) Rehab and Skilled Nursing. This non-profit organization receives referrals from several hospitals, rehab centers, and assisted living facilities from throughout the region. “We are working diligently to change past perceptions that nursing homes are only long-term care facilities,” states Mark Constantino, Rehab Services Manager. “This past year we have admitted approximately 600 individuals to our three rehabilitation and skilled nursing facilities. About 300 individuals, or 50% of our patients, returned back to the community following a short-term rehabilitation stay. We expect this trend to continue and strive to be the area’s short-term rehabilitation provider of choice. Our therapists are continuously working on enhancing their rehabilitative skills and techniques. We are also in the process of sharing our methods and skills with area physicians so they can confidently refer patients to us knowing we will meet their patients’ individual needs.” To learn more about Rehabilitation: The Heritage Way, including Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapy, contact The Heritage Group Admissions at (716) 484-6695 or visit www.heritage1886.org
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October 2007 - The decision to undergo elective surgery for joint replacement can be a difficult one. One must weigh the risks, benefits, and recovery time when considering this type of invasive surgery. This decision was not easy for two Jamestown residents, but internal motivation and perseverance led them both to successful rehabilitation experiences through The Heritage Group and a brand new extension on mobility.