The Joint Replacement Center at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Rahway has produced many patient success stories, including these two about women who rediscovered just how satisfying life can be.
To replace a knee or hip, an orthopedic surgeon removes the damaged or arthritic joint and replaces it with a prosthetic version. For Patricia Mastrogiacomo and Barbara Spiegel, their new joints have made all the difference in the world, leaving them free to pursue their favorite activities instead of being constrained by pain.
Kicking Back into High Gear
Mrs. Mastrogiacomo had always led an active life—she enjoyed taking spin classes with her daughter, Nina, a physical therapist at RWJ Rahway—until a fall led to pain that wouldn’t go away. The 54-year-old home care nurse from Randolph eventually consulted an orthopedic surgeon, who recommended she undergo hip replacement.
“I was shocked,” says Mrs. Mastrogiacomo. “I’d heard about the Joint Replacement Center at RWJ Rahway from my daughter, and the fact that the Center focuses exclusively on joint replacement piqued my interest. I sought a second opinion at the Center, and Dr. Rojer [David Rojer, MD, medical director of the Center], confirmed the earlier recommendation. By that time, the pain was so severe that I couldn’t even walk my dog, so I knew it was time to have the surgery.”
Mrs. Mastrogiacomo had her hip replaced in June 2009 and was amazed that she was able to walk a short distance on the day of surgery. Her family had longstanding plans to visit Italy in August, and thanks to her loved ones’ help and her physical therapy regimen, she was able to enjoy the art and culture of Rome, Florence, and Milan without a hitch. Once back at home, she returned to work and resumed her favorite activities, including doubles tennis, a sport she had given up before surgery.
“I received excellent care at RWJ Rahway,” Mrs. Mastrogiacomo says. “If you’re experiencing joint pain, don’t hesitate to have joint replacement. Think of what I would have missed out on if I hadn’t had the surgery!”
A Team Accomplishment
Mrs. Spiegel of Winfield Park had walked with a limp since sustaining an injury to her right knee in a car accident in 1986. Through the years, she had five arthroscopic surgeries on the knee, but the joint grew steadily weaker, and the pain became more intense. After twisting the knee in December 2008 on a patch of ice, she was only able to walk with the aid of a cane, a development that caused her to visit the Center.
The stairs in her home caused Mrs. Spiegel to worry about her ability to get around after discharge, but the Center’s pre-operative education class eased her fears. She was extremely skeptical when she was told she would walk 50 to 100 feet the day of the procedure, but following her knee replacement in May, she logged 340 feet a few hours after the surgery.