April 7, 2017
Like many patients, Joan Parker delayed having knee replacement surgery until she could no longer take the pain.
“I had hurt off and on for 15 years,” she said.
And like most patients, her discomfort disappeared after the procedure.
“I haven’t had nearly the pain since the surgery as I had before. I could barely walk through Wal-Mart.”
Parker was told at age 55 she needed knee replacement. Instead, she quit walking for exercise. Then she tore the cartilage in her knee, known as the meniscus. After three repair surgeries, she finally told Dr. Matthew Smith that she was ready for replacement. Just a week after the March 7 procedure she was all smiles.
“I have done so well,” said the 71-year-old Albertville resident. “I dreaded this so bad but it hasn’t been anything like I thought.”
One part of the process Parker believes made a huge contribution to her success was attending Joint Academy, a free class offered to all joint replacement patients to help prepare them for surgery.
“That class was spot on,” she said. “I knew what to expect, I knew what they were doing and I knew why they were doing it. Knowledge is power.”
Parker’s husband Doyle, who attended the class with her, agreed.
“It was very confidence building,” he said. “You don’t wonder what’s happening – you prepare for it.”
All joint replacement patients scheduled for surgery at Marshall Medical are asked to attend a Joint Academy preoperative education class. Patients are encouraged to bring a “coach,” such as a spouse, friend or relative. During the session, a nurse, physical therapist and a care coordinator explain what to bring to pre-admission testing and what to expect from the day of surgery until you are discharged to go home or to rehab.
RN Robin Morgan Harper leads Joint Academy classes, along with social worker Amanda Lindsey, who handles discharge planning for the hospitals. They spend more than an hour walking patients through every step from preparing for surgery to recovering from it.
Harper starts by telling the class they will see her again on the day following their surgery. They will get a visit from Lindsey on the day of surgery and again before they go home. Each person is given a patient guide so they have all the information to take home.
Points covered in the class include:
* Knee or hip replacement surgery involves removing the damaged joint and putting in a prosthetic device, which takes about 45 minutes.
* Patients should make arrangements for someone to stay with them for a week or two weeks after surgery or plan to go to rehab.
* Patients should get a walker, bedside commode and shower chair ahead of time. A walker with wheels on the front is best.
* Bring walker to the hospital to use following surgery.
* Prepare to use a walker at home by removing throw rugs and putting often used items within reach.
* Prepare meals ahead of time.
* Remove clutter to decrease the chance of falling.
Physical therapist Rhonda Kilpatrick sees patients soon after they get back to a hospital room.
“We will be getting you up walking the day of surgery,” she told the class. “We want to get weight on the joint as soon as possible.”
After discharge, therapists go daily to patients’ homes for two weeks to help them with therapy. Then patients are ready to go to the gym for therapy.
Parker said a valuable piece of information she learned from the class was that she can do physical therapy in her recliner without having to get on the floor and back up again. She also recommends that caregivers attend the class as well, as Doyle did.
“We just thought it was the grandest thing,” he said.
The two met as teenagers on a blind date and have been married nearly 57 years. They raised five sons and cared for 43 foster children during that time. Doyle’s work with Archer Daniels Midland food processing company took them all over the country. He retired in 2006 and stays busy writing and substitute teaching. Joan stayed home caring for children and now enjoys getting to visit family and especially their eight grandchildren.
She is very happy to have gotten the surgery behind her and looks forward to soon being completely healed.
“I’m walking great,” she said.
Both commended the care they got at Marshall South and from Dr. Smith and his staff.
“I would not have gotten the care that I got anywhere else,” she said.
“It was very reassuring the way he handled everything,” Doyle said. “I like to have a plan and Dr. Smith measures every aspect before, during and after.”
Joint Academy is offered at four times in different locations every month.
* First Tuesday of each month at 10 a.m. in the Medical Plaza 3rd floor classroom next door to Marshall Medical Center North.
* Second Tuesday of each month at 10 a.m. in Dr. Matthew Smith’s office, just past Marshall Medical Center South at the corner of Corley Street and US Hwy 431.
* Third Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. in the Marshall Professional Building (next door to Marshall Cancer Care Center).
* Fourth Tuesday of each month at 10 a.m. in the Marshall Professional Building.
To sign up for a class or for more information, call the Joint Academy coordinator at 256.571.8615 or talk to your orthopedic physician.