Patient Testimonials

Here’s What Our Patients Are Saying

There are over 5,000 members of AAHKS, many of which are fellowship-trained joint replacement surgeons. Our members aim to promote the advancement of hip and knee care even through some of the most difficult aspects of joint replacement which can include patients with very complex medical issues. It is important to our members that those same patients have the best possible access and quality care available. And pleasing those patients is a top priority. Here’s what a few are saying about their surgeon.

AAHKS Patient and Public Relations Committee Chair, Dr. Brett Levine spoke with Michelle Menconi about her decision to undergo a total knee arthroplasty procedure on her right knee.

What Our Patients Are Saying…

Once An Athlete, Always An Athlete – William Best

I’ve been an athlete all my life, but at age 69 was beginning to find it hard to do some of the activities I had grown fond of doing. These included skiing, horseback riding and golf. Osteoarthritis in my hip had begun to restrict my ability to twist. I decided to meet with Dr. Rafael Sierra at Mayo Rochester to discuss the possibilities of a hip replacement. During our meeting, we discussed in detail the anterior versus posterior approach to the procedure. The anterior approach seems to be the most preferred procedure these days, but with that, there’s the possiblity of causing damage to the nerve bundle located near the incision. This was a concern for me. To read more, click here.

I Feel 10 Years Younger – Greg Bland

My doctor had recommended total knee replacement in 2017, but I was under the belief that I was too young (54) and that the replacement wouldn’t last very long. When the viscosupplementation finally wore off I couldn’t walk even one block before intense pain kicked in. Because of COVID-19 related delays, it took five months before I could get “elective” surgery. To read more, click here.

Expectations and Advocacy from a Well-Known Bioethics Professor – Dr. Arthur Caplan

AAHKS Patient and Public Relations Committee Chair, Dr. Brett Levine spoke with Professor and founding head of the Division of Medical Ethics at NYU Grossman School of Medicine in New York City, Dr. Arthur Caplan. Dr. Caplan had joint replacement surgery on his right knee after experiencing pain to the joint and trouble walking up stairs. From his medical school training, Dr. Caplan knew something was wrong with his knee, so he went to have it examined. Immediately upon seeing the x-ray, Dr. Caplan knew he was a candidate for knee replacement surgery. “I’m so fortunate I went early to have my knee examined, because you create more damage the longer you wait.” To find out more, click here.

Years of Damage, Repaired in Hours – Rachael Epling

After being in a car accident 21 years prior, Rachael Epling decided to take her life back. As one who loves to be active, the pain she was experiencing limited her physical activities. After receiving multiple cortisone injections, trigger point injections, and radiofrequency procedures on her lower back to reduce the pain, Rachael made the toughest decision of her life. At age 42, she underwent a Total Hip Replacement via the anterior approach. It wasn’t easy, but after spending half her life in pain, she was determined to get her life back. To find out more, click here.

It’s all about “Work Mode” – Michelle Menconi

Michelle Menconi decided to undergo a total knee arthroplasty procedure on her right knee almost one year ago. Michelle slowly started to see her quality of life being limited due to the pain she was experiencing in her right knee. She noticed it about five years ago. To help with her deteriorating knee, she was given cortisone shots and for three weeks straight, Michelle had lubrication injected into her knee. Michelle knew it was time to do something, so she went into “work mode,” handling this situation like a business transaction – doing the research to find the right surgeon for her, finding out the best way to get the surgery done, best way to recover and what she wanted long-term for her knee. To find out more, click here.

The Grateful Golfer – Rev. Dr. George B. Wirth

In March of 2017, thanks to the reference of a close friend, I flew to Little Rock to meet with, Dr. C. Lowry Barnes and his medical team to explore knee replacement for both of my knees. As a former college/graduate school rugby player for seven years in Chapel Hill, NC and Princeton, NJ, squash player and a 10K runner for 45 years, both of my knees were in bad shape. The pain had become debilitating, I had difficulty sleeping at night and walking during the day and knew that something had to be done. To read more, click here.

All patients complete a consent form that allows AAHKS to use their pictures and/or videos for the education of future patients. Signed and completed consent forms give AAHKS permission to use footage submitted in future videos and on the website to highlight the benefits that hip and knee replacements provide for our society. Click here for a consent form.