Susan Wilson experienced excruciating leg pain her entire life.
Bowlegged as a young child, she eventually developed painful and debilitating osteoporosis and arthritis.
“It became bone on bone in both of my knees,” said Ms. Wilson, 64. “It got to the point where I couldn’t last walking more than a couple of minutes at the beach. I couldn’t take it anymore.”
A friend insisted she see an orthopedic surgeon and was connected with an experienced surgeon who specializes in total joint replacements at Lakeland Regional Health. A team of highly specialized orthopedic surgeons, nurses and physician assistants at Lakeland Regional Health helps patients get back to regular living as quickly as possible.
Ms. Wilson is extremely grateful for her two successful knee replacements, one in 2016 and one in spring 2017.
“I will never be able to put on a piece of paper what it means to me to have a straight leg,” Ms. Wilson said. “I had just learned to live with the pain. The pain is completely gone now.”
She spent one night at Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center for her first procedure and two nights for her second procedure. “My second surgery was not even a week ago, and I’m up walking and doing my exercises.”
Part of her recovery plan is visits by a home health aide three times a week and a weekly visit from a nurse. Keeping up with her 5-year-old daughter, Jenna, is the main goal, said Ms. Wilson, who was born in Lakeland and lives in New Port Richey.
“I can walk with my daughter. That’s the big thing,” said Ms. Wilson. “I can stand longer than 5 minutes. I don’t have to scout out where there might be a bench to sit down on. I can walk on the beach, walk in a grocery store. The pain is gone now. I have a new life, a whole new life.”