My Comeback Story: Shelley G.

:"You have two choices," said Dr. Goldman during a consultation for a severely arthritic hip. "You can take pain medication for the rest of your life, or you can greatly improve the quality of your life." That being said, I scheduled my hip replacement surgery for March 2023. I had been living with pain for a year and a half and Dr. Goldman was my third consultation. The diagnosis was consistent with each doctor, and my choice to have Dr. Goldman perform the surgery was no more than a gut feeling. The experience I had with Dr. Goldman, his staff and Morristown Hospital was outstanding! For an anxiety ridden person, as I am, I can say that my hip replacement surgery was so much easier than I could ever imagine. The pre-op protocol crossed every "t" and dotted every "i." I recall that on the day of surgery I was taken to the OR at 8:45 am and was alert and in recovery by 9:30am. From there I was given occupational therapy and physical therapy and was cleared to be discharged a few hours later with a cane and a walker. I needed neither. A physical therapist was assigned for in-home therapy which was to be followed by outpatient PT. After the initial assessment by the physical therapist and a few helpful hints to help me navigate my day-to-day routine, it was agreed that I did not need physical therapy. My surgery was three years and I am now 76. I maintain a healthy lifestyle and workout on a regular basis. Being in good physical condition prior to surgery was certainly a key factor in my speedy recovery. I was back in the gym after a few weeks. At my 6 week check up, I told Dr. Goldman that I was feeling great and was thankful for being pain free. His response was, "pretty cool surgery, wasn't it." Yes indeed! It was definitely pretty cool surgery, and I thank Dr. Goldman and the Morristown hospital staff for their professionalism and skill.