I have now treated with several doctors at OCC. Dr. Larkin is the most recent orthopedist and I met with him to have my hips x-rayed and once a problem was recognized, reach a treatment plan.
I have had chronic low back pain and during the last few years, it became even more pronounced. Unbeknownst to me, the additional pain was in substantial part attributable to painful and debilitating osteoarthritis in my both of hips but which manifested itself to me as additional low back pain associated with pre- existing spinal stenosis and osteoarthritis.
As I began treating for low back pain with physical therapy as a prelude to an ablation procedure the pain actually became much worse and finally I discerned all of the pain in my low back/ sciatic nerve area might not be from the L4–5-S1 issues I have had for roughly 25 years but rather some other phenomenon. I had an epiphany: It would be prudent to meet with a hip specialist and voila: X-rays revealed that I am in need of bi- lateral hip replacement surgery. I know Dr. Larkin is highly regarded and highly skilled at such procedures and I am so looking forward to being relieved of at least one of the pain issues that has kept me virtually immobilized and turned me into a homebody. With Dr. Larkin’s help and some additional procedures to address other orthopedic issues I am hoping that someday in the not too distant future, I can lead what resembles a normal life again. I feel so fortunate to have an orthopedist of Dr.Larkin’s level of skill and caring to help me address my issues.
It is still astonishing to me that over the course of 25 years of dealing with and treating low back pain neither I nor anyone else previously had ascertained that I had hip deterioration issues in addition to lumbar/ sciatic nerve issues.
The wonderful thing is when you finally realize the full nature and extent of your medical issue, you can then take meaningful steps to address it and vastly improve your quality of life.
I now know what they mean now when they say getting old isn’t for sissies. The health problems can be numerous and varied and often difficult to narrow down from a differential diagnosis. But at least I now this know these highly treatable hip issues can be resolved via highly effective hip joint replacement surgeries and meaningful relief is on the horizon. Pstscript;
I neglected to hit the sand button, and therefore I have now had surgery on my left hip, which was an astounding and appreciated success.
I’m finishing physical therapy and looking forward to my right hip being successfully treated and the additional relief I will receive from that procedure.
Obviously, I am elated at Dr. Larkin’s Performance, both as a surgeon and as a human being, communicating with me the various aspects involved in having this long suffering condition rectified.
If I could give Dr. Larkin 10 stars, I would.
