My Comeback Story: Barbara U.

In 2011, I underwent surgery to straighten the toes on my right foot. During recovery, I wore a boot and stayed off my foot as directed. When the boot finally came off, I realized something felt wrong—my gait had changed, and walking no longer felt natural. A family trip to Disney World confirmed that something was seriously off. After a day of walking, my legs hurt so much that I couldn’t sleep. I went to my family doctor, who told me I had arthritis in both hips. I was 62 years old—active, healthy, and completely unprepared for that diagnosis. A rheumatologist confirmed the arthritis and prescribed Naproxen, but even large doses barely helped. Before long, I was walking with a cane, which was difficult both physically and emotionally. That was the point when I decided it was time to consider hip replacement surgery. I was referred to Dr. Christopher Cook at Orthopedic Associates Lancaster, highly recommended by multiple people, including my rheumatologist. However, during the pre-surgery testing, my family doctor found a lump in my breast. The diagnosis was breast cancer. Hip surgery had to be postponed for months while I underwent treatment. During radiation treatment, my hip pain continued to worsen. I often needed a wheelchair, and when I didn’t, I relied heavily on my cane. I was in constant pain and rapidly losing the ability to walk comfortably. Once I was declared cancer-free, I was finally able to move forward with hip replacement surgery. On December 23, 2017, I woke up from my first hip replacement completely pain-free on that side. The only pain I felt was in the other hip that still needed to be replaced. Dr. Cook does not perform bilateral replacements at once due to the increased risk of blood clots, so I waited six weeks before he replaced the second hip. Both surgeries were a complete success. Dr. Cook was meticulous in every way—from ensuring my leg lengths were perfectly matched to overseeing every detail of my care. I cannot say enough good things about Orthopedic Associates Lancaster, Dr. Cook, and his entire team. Their professionalism, skill, and genuine caring made all the difference. To say the surgery restored my life is an understatement. Without it, I would most likely be using a wheelchair today. My recoveries were surprisingly easy, and I was pain-free after both procedures. Today, 11 years later, I am 77 years old. I work out four or five days a week, stay active, have no restrictions, and—most importantly—remain completely pain-free. I am profoundly grateful for the care that made that possible.