As Shirlee Thompson approached her 81st birthday, she knew something had to change. For quite some time, she had been living with constant pain in her right groin and hip area. “It wasn’t going to get better, so I figured I may as well get a new hip,” Shirlee said.
Wanting to stay close to home for her care, Shirlee chose Waverly Health Center for her hip replacement journey. After a referral from her provider, Shirlee met orthopedic surgeon Dr. Torrez and his team. From the very beginning, she felt at ease.
“Dr. Torrez and his whole team were just awesome,” Shirlee said. “They immediately made me feel comfortable. I highly recommend them for anyone considering hip surgery.”
Before surgery, Shirlee admits she was nervous and unsure. But meeting the orthopedic team and attending Joint Camp with Crissy Dieckman, patient care navigator, helped put those fears to rest. “They were all so personable and great at making me feel ready to have this surgery,” she said.
One of the things that stood out most to Shirlee was the level of support she received before and after surgery. “Crissy had called a couple of times, and I had her contact information so I could call her whenever I had a question,” Shirlee said. “That is a really great feeling, knowing you can call someone.”
Following surgery, Shirlee stayed committed to the recovery plan outlined by Dr. Torrez and the orthopedic team. “It was very important to get up every hour during the day to walk with my walker and then use the ice pack,” she said. Her hard work paid off quickly. “It wasn’t long before I was using the cane to get around.
Shirlee also shared a helpful tip for others preparing for surgery: equipment such as a walker, cane, raised toilet seat and other recovery aids can be borrowed through the Bremer County Health Department, eliminating the need to purchase those items. “Knowing those resources were available was so helpful,” Shirlee said.
Today, Shirlee says the difference is remarkable. “I can definitely stand longer now than I could before surgery,” she said. “I can pretty much do everything and anything now.” For Shirlee, choosing hip surgery at WHC gave her more than pain relief. It gave her confidence, comfort and the ability to enjoy life again.
