CHRISTUS Southeast Texas - LiveWell

Decades of hard work left Sammy Mo—tt's knees in bad shape. Now, he looks forward to his retirement and doing the outdoor activities he loves, with knees that don't limit him. Early last year, Sammy, a 67-year-old Beaumont resident, couldn't climb stairs or get out of his bass boat without his knees hurting, particularly the left. He traces the wear and tear to his 20-year career in the Army. "I worked on helicopters," Sammy says. "Instead of taking the steps to get o• of the work deck, which was about four feet above the ground, I always jumped. I was young and foolish." When Sammy saw his long-time orthopedic surgeon, Stephen Hall, D.O., of the Beaumont Bone & Joint Institute and CHRISTUS Southeast Texas St. Mary, about his left knee, imaging studies revealed osteoarthritis (OA) had destroyed the cushioning in the joint, leaving bone rubbing against bone. "Patients get OA in their knees for reasons related to their jobs, the sports they play or surgeries they've had," Dr. Hall says. "We don't know why some individuals are more prone to OA than others, but what is certain is once someone gets it, it doesn't get better." For Sammy, the severity of the OA in his left knee meant it was time for a new joint. DOUBLE RELIEF Dr. Hall replaced Sammy's left knee at CHRISTUS Southeast Texas St. Mary in February 2016. He spent four days recovering in the hospital afterward. "The nurses and physical therapists were fantastic," Sammy says. "By the time I left, I could walk up and down stairs." Rehabilitation continued for Sammy at home and at CHRISTUS Southeast Texas St.£Elizabeth for a few months. Activities became easier, but a problem remained: the right knee, which had also lost all of its internal padding. Dr. Hall replaced the joint in January 2017. The timing was important to Sammy. "I wanted to be ready for deer hunting season in the fall," he says. "To do that, I needed to have the operation early enough in the year that I could build a new deer stand in the summer." Thanks to a successful surgery and a recovery that's on track, Sammy should be able to do just that. ✚ Does joint pain have too much of a say in how you live? To find an orthopedic surgeon who can speak with you about surgical and nonsurgical treatments for osteoarthritis pain, visit christussetx.org/orthopedics. Orthopedic Excellence CHRISTUS Southeast Texas Orthopedic Specialty Center and Beaumont Bone & Joint Institute opened its fourth clinic within a 9-county region on Jan. 18, continuing to enhance the region's most comprehensive orthopedic care for the Southeast Texas community. Certified Orthopedic Physician Assistant Stephen Poly will be seeing patients in conjunction with board-certified orthopedic surgeons at the clinic located at CHRISTUS Southeast Texas Jasper Memorial hospital, 1275 Marvin Hancock Drive in Jasper, Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m., Friday, 8 a.m.–noon. "Stephen brings to the Jasper clinic a wealth of patient-centered orthopedic experience. We are thrilled to have him join our team to serve our community in Jasper," said Beaumont Bone & Joint Institute President Oscar JoVan Currie, M.D. The growth of the area's leading orthopedic group enables CHRISTUS and Beaumont Bone & Joint Institute to enhance collaboration and continue to maximize their combined strengths to improve access to quality care. Request a same- or next-day appointment with any CHRISTUS Orthopedic Specialty Center and Beaumont Bone & Joint Institute providers by calling (800) 218-9355. Back on the Hunt Stephen Hall, D.O. Stephen Poly, PA-C Summer 2017 | christusset x.org JOINT HEALTH 9

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