It could have been hereditary. It could have been years of football, hockey, volleyball, skiing, motorcycle and snowmobile accidents. But when Don Adams started limping, and couldn’t peddle a bicycle because he was in so much pain from trying to get his leg over it, he didn’t expect to be diagnosed with osteoarthritis at 48.
“My mom had knee replacements when she was young, so I wasn’t totally surprised,“ says Don. “I’ve enjoyed a fun life. I’ve done a lot of things, and played a lot of sports that weren’t easy on my joints—sometimes four–five nights a week. A lot of my active friends in their late 40s and early 50s are having the same issues.”
First, he had to give up the sports he loved. Not being able to downhill ski or water ski was bad enough. Within two years, he could barely walk and couldn’t bend down to put on his socks. Defeated, he spent a lot of time just sitting in a chair.
Worse yet, he almost lost his job with a company he’d been with for over 30 years. “I’m in sales, and I get paid for performance,” says Don. “I was having a hard time doing my job because I was in pain and taking pain medications all the time. My doctor told me I’d know when it was time to have my hip replaced. I decided to just get it done.”
His doctor was able to take advantage of a new technology, making him, at 55, one of the first patients to benefit from Stryker’s Mobile Bearing Hip™ Replacement, designed to accommodate a more natural walking (gait) cycle of movement, both in range of motion and directional shifts.
With his hip strong and stable, Don spends a lot of time outdoors with his 14-year-old daughter, who for years had only heard stories about what a good athlete he’d been. He walks a lot, works out in a gym, rides bikes, cuts wood, and is back to doing his favorite things.
Free from hip pain, and generally a “much happier person,” Don now helps others in similar situations. “I’m sold,” he says. “I’d recommend it to anyone. Really.”
Individual results may vary. Not all patients will have the same post-operative recovery and activity level. See your orthopaedic surgeon to discuss your own potential benefits and risks.
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