Vim & Vigor - Fall 2018 - Parrish Medical Center - 53

ast spring, Glenda Johnson,
housekeeping supervisor
at Parrish Medical Center
(PMC), started feeling pain
in her knee. She couldn't even walk
around because of the pain. She went
to her doctor, who advised her to see
an orthopedist.
After hearing great things about
Parrish Medical Group (PMG) orthopedic surgeon E. Wayne Mosley, MD, she

Do's and Don'ts:

MANAGING
ARTHRITIS
PAIN

When the surfaces of the knee joint
wear out from arthritis, the grinding
of bone on bone causes pain, swelling
and difficulty with simple tasks like
going up or down stairs. As you consider joint replacement surgery, take
these steps to feel better.
3 Do keep a diary of symptoms.
This will help you track your pain
and identify triggers, as well as give
you a starting point for chats with
your doctor.
3 Don't skip your medication.
Yes, meds can be expensive, but
they're powerful at keeping inflammation at bay. Your rheumatologist may
be able to help if side effects get to be
too much.
3 Do keep moving. Watching your
weight through diet and low-impact
exercise reduces the pressure that's
put on your joints all through the day.
3 Don't go into an arthritis flare
unprepared. Have plans in place for
work and home if you have a sudden
burst of searing pain, and talk to your
doctor in advance about home care
options to mitigate your symptoms.

decided to see him. X-rays showed she
needed a total knee replacement. From
beginning to end, she describes her time
with Parrish as healing.
Prior to Johnson's surgery appointment, she attended a total knee replacement course at PMC.
"Because of the training, I felt very
comfortable knowing how the process
was going to happen. Everything happened as I was informed it would, which
led to a much smoother process and it
not being as scary as I thought it would
be," she says.
"After my surgery," she adds, "everyone was very receptive, especially the
CNAs [certified nursing assistants] on
the third floor. Kathleen Green was an
angel. I needed help taking a bath, and
while feeling very vulnerable, Kathleen
made me feel so comfortable. I thought
I would feel more uneasy, but she was so
caring. She made sure I had everything I
needed and more.
"Aracelis Moore was also pleasant," Johnson continues. "She took
the time to really listen to me and be
present. Aracelis' compassion shined
when she asked if she could pray for
me, and this was exactly what I needed.
Harriet Treider from housekeeping
was awesome, as well, and made sure
everything was extra clean, along with
checking on me every day to see if I
ever needed anything else."

KNEE
REPLACEMENT
RECOVERY
BASICS
As you regain strength after knee replacement surgery, remember these safety tips.
3 Have a seat: Sit in a chair or at
the edge of your bed when getting
dressed. Consider using a shower chair
when bathing.
3 Use care on stairs: Step up with
your good leg and down with the leg
that's recovering.
3 Take it easy: Don't lift anything weighing more than 20 pounds. Take small steps,
being careful not to twist your knee.

After surgery, Johnson went to
rehabilitation at the Parrish
Healthcare Center in Port St. John.
"During rehab, [physical therapy
assistant] Kevin Cauble was really
encouraging. Some of the exercises
were harder than I expected, but
as time went on it became easier,"
she says.
"From my appointment to rehab,
my experience was not only physically
healing, but emotionally healing," she
adds. "I am now back at work and have
great support. I am so proud to be a
part of the Parrish family." ■
CALL

Don't Let Joint Pain Slow You Down
Parrish's expert care partners are trained in the newest joint replacement
techniques and maintain an impeccable quality and safety record. To find
out whether joint replacement is right for you, schedule your consultation
appointment by calling 321-633-8660.

FALL 2018

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