Jeannette’s Story
Growing up in Southern Calif., and now residing in Winter Park, Fla., Jeannette loved being active year-round. She enjoyed traveling with her husband and family, shopping with friends and walking through her neighborhood. A few years ago, Jeannette was having a hard time enjoying her hobbies and participating in basic activities because of hip pain; just riding along in the golf cart with her husband had become too painful. Jeannette stopped going to the lake and pool. While out shopping, she would sit on a bench while her friends sent her pictures of items in the stores. She was missing out on normal, everyday activities and was not enjoying her life.
Since childhood, Jeannette always had a fear of doctors. She tried to manage her hip pain with over-the-counter medication and physical therapy, yet even after therapy, she continued to experience severe pain. The possibility of hip replacement surgery scared her, and for some time she avoided the idea altogether. Finally, she had a turning point when she was on vacation with her family. One night, Jeannette couldn’t make the long walk down the beach to the family’s special restaurant for dinner, and the disappointment on her family’s faces made it clear to her—she had to do something. She was tired of missing out.
“The pain had gotten so severe that it washed away any fear of having surgery,” said Jeannette.
Jeannette was referred to Dr. Joel Matta. Dr. Matta is known as the modern-day pioneer in the anterior approach, a muscle-sparing surgical technique for hip replacement. Dr. Matta and his staff made Jeannette comfortable, taking the time to explain the surgery and the possible outcomes and show her videos of the procedure. Jeannette—now well-informed and supported, despite her initial fears—decided to have the surgery.
In August 2017, Dr. Matta performed Jeannette’s first hip replacement with ANTERIOR ADVANTAGE™ MATTA METHOD™ Hip Replacement. Within one hour after surgery, she was taking her first steps. After physical therapy and rehab, Jeannette was soon back out and enjoying her active lifestyle.
“Waking up from surgery without pain was simply amazing,” said Jeannette.
In June 2018, Dr. Matta performed Jeannette’s second hip replacement on her opposite hip using the same procedure. After the positive experience with her first hip replacement, she felt it was a much easier decision to make this time.
“When I left for surgery that day, it was like I was going to visit friends for coffee, and I wasn’t a bit scared,” said Jeannette.
Jeannette stays active and travels frequently with her husband. Family means everything to her; her children, grandchildren and even the dog look at her differently now because she can keep up with all of them. She even wore heels, for the first time in years, to her son’s wedding.
“This has changed my outlook on life and how I do things,” said Jeanntte. “I love having my two new hips!”
Jeannette is so passionate about her life-changing experience that she and her husband, as well as a family foundation, have made donations to the Anterior Hip Foundation to help fund further research and treatment for others in need. In addition, Jeannette wants to share her personal mission statement and wish for other potential hip patients:
With sincere indebtedness to those who have directed me insightfully to the anterior approach hip replacement in my time of need, and with relentless anticipation that others will have the same opportunity that dramatically remodeled my quality of life within hours of the procedure.
MATTA METHOD™ is a trademark of Joel Matta, M.D.
