Take me to West Valley Medical Center for rapid recovery
As a native Idahoan and enthusiastic outdoorsman, Jared’s favorite hobbies involve adventure and physical abilities. Unfortunately, at age 49, Jared found himself with debilitating knee pain that interrupted the activities he loved: hiking, hunting, camping and fishing.
“It got so bad that I walked with a pretty severe limp and significant pain. Over time I could no longer walk on uneven ground, so I couldn’t be outdoors,” Jared said. “It became more and more of a problem.”
When Jared decided he was ready to take action, he asked around for doctor recommendations. Jared consistently heard positive reviews from friends and associates about premier knee specialist, Dr. George Nicola who serves patients at West Valley Medical Center.
“Dr. Nicola started with injections and those worked, but only for a short period of time. He told me we could continue injections monthly, but we’d simply prolong the situation. The only real long-term fix meant replacing the joints. I was bone-on-bone and needed two knee replacements,” Jared said.
Steps for success: Rapid Recovery, advanced technology and West Valley’s Ortho Ethos program
Arthoplasty, or knee replacement surgery, aims to relieve pain and restore mobility in diseased or damaged knee joints.
At West Valley Medical Center, patients gain the benefits of a knee replacement technique called Rapid Recovery, which preserves more of the existing bone and results in less damage to the quadricep muscle. Surgeons at West Valley Medical Center also utilize advanced robotic technology, providing precise accuracy, less pain and fewer complications.
“I was thrilled to hear about the Rapid Recovery technique; and having robots involved in the surgery is a good thing,” Jared said. “In fact, I’d much rather have a robot working on me than a person because it’s more precise, consistent and repeatable.”
To prepare for his surgical procedures, Jared took part in the Ortho Ethos program at West Valley Medical Center. This one-stop-shop experience incorporates educational classes about what to expect in surgery and recovery, registration for the procedure, and preliminary lab work.
“It was really helpful. They explained the surgery, pain medication, nutrition and how to handle things during recovery. That way nothing came as a surprise. They gave me tools and techniques, like how to get in and out of the car after surgery. Everything was familiar when I experienced it,” Jared said.
One knee at a time: Replacing pain with possibilities
Jared underwent his replacement surgeries at West Valley Medical Center one knee at a time, five weeks apart.
“The surgeries went really well. Each time I went in at 8 a.m., the surgery started around 10 a.m. and I went home around 3 p.m. that afternoon. By the time I left the hospital, I had already been up and walking with a walker,” Jared said.
Though his time in the hospital went quickly, Jared said the team’s professionalism and compassionate care left a positive impression.
“They were friendly and put me at ease,” Jared said. “They explained everything that’s going on and were very willing to do whatever it took to help me feel comfortable. It was a calming atmosphere that made the whole thing go smoothly.”
Once home, Jared rested for the first few days and then began physical therapy. Throughout the entire recovery, he strictly adhered to the advice given during the Ortho Ethos program.
“Three days after the surgery, my knee already felt better than before the surgery,” Jared said. “And by following the instructions from Ortho Ethos class, recovery went as smoothly as possible.”
Healing now, adventures on the horizon
One month after Dr. Nicola completed Jared’s second knee surgery, Jared’s pain is replaced with possibilities, and he’s looking forward to future adventures in the great outdoors.
“I’m continuing to strengthen the muscles, and I can do many things I couldn’t do before. I can walk longer, sleep better and deal with uneven ground. I see it on the horizon — it’s only a matter of time and strengthening before I’m back to normal again,” Jared said.
His advice to people experiencing debilitating knee pain: Don’t suffer unnecessarily.
“I would definitely say, ‘Take me to West Valley Medical Center’ because Dr. Nicola and the program are superb. They’ve developed a procedure and process that gets people back to life quickly,” Jared said.