Cheryl Beck
“My hip replacement changed my life!”
At age 68, Cheryl Beck is a very busy lady. The Colorado native walks or hikes 2+ miles most days, plans to return soon to her Body Combat martial arts and yoga classes, works at a local quilt shop, and enjoys camping so much that she and her husband are full-time RV’ers. About a year ago, Cheryl started experiencing pain in her right hip. “I scheduled an evaluation at Front Range Orthopedics & Spine and found out I had advanced arthritis and bone spurs in my hip. I tried acupuncture, chiropractic, and extensive physical therapy. Finally, the pain became so debilitating I tried cortisone shots.” The shots helped Cheryl find some relief and allowed her to spend the summer working as a “workkamper” cleaning cabins at a dude ranch and campground called the Winding River Resort.
However, by the end of the summer, the pain was back with a vengeance. It was so intense she could barely walk, and daily necessities like getting into a car or going up the steps to her RV were extremely painful. Cheryl quit doing all the things she loves; she even quit working at the Erie Quilt shop. “Working at the quilt shop is very physically demanding, especially now. We have doubled in size, adding classrooms and more workspace, so the distance I have to cover going back and forth can exceed 10,000 steps a day. You have to bend and stretch to get to the 5,000+ bolts of fabric in the store and be able to carry multiple 4-10 pound bolts at a time. When the store is busy is can get really crazy!”
Finally, Cheryl realized she needed to get a hip replacement. “After talking with friends and researching my options, I decided I wanted my hip replacement through a direct superior approach due to the quicker recovery time.” According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, the direct superior approach is a less invasive surgical technique for total hip replacement, resulting in increased hip stability, faster recovery, and less postoperative pain. “I was so impressed with the doctors at OCR. They were very knowledgeable, and I appreciated Dr. Cooney’s straightforward approach. I knew exactly what my options were, and it was easy to schedule appointments.” Cheryl scheduled her surgery and prepared for her recovery.
Cheryl spent one night in the hospital. “Due to the excellent pre-op classes and materials provided by OCR, I knew what I had to do to prepare for the best possible outcome. Recovery was so much easier than I envisioned! I only took the pain medication for two days!” She was walking with a walker within an hour after her procedure (a video was sent to all the ladies at the quilt store who couldn’t believe it), progressed to a cane within five days, and was driving the next week again. Marci Schnabel, the owner of A Quilter’s Corner, was especially shocked when Cheryl showed up two weeks after surgery to buy supplies for a new project and was able to start work a few weeks later. “At my six-week appointment, I was cleared to resume my prior active life. To me, the whole experience was incredibly positive. I have to have the other hip done in a few years and now know what to expect. I am so excited to be back working at the quilt shop and ready to pursue the activities I love pain-free. I can’t wait to enjoy camping and fishing this summer! My advice to anyone with the type of severe hip pain I had – Don’t wait, just get it done!”
We love hearing stories like Cheryl’s. OCR is here to support you on the road to recovery. From our outpatient surgery and recovery center to our physical therapy department and imaging, our entire team will care for you from head to toe to help you become the champion of your lifestyle.
