SuperPath® hip experiences - Cheshire

Cheshire, a 58-year-old Phoenix, Ariz. resident, first began experiencing stiffness in her right hip in 2005. Routine activities such as doing yard work were causing her pain and it was becoming increasingly more difficult to go on hikes. She consulted her physician who took X-rays and diagnosed her with arthritis.

“At the time I thought it was just muscle tension and with ibuprofen and massage therapy, the pain was manageable,” said Cheshire.

In 2010, after Cheshire underwent radiation for breast cancer, she was diagnosed with moderate to severe arthritis. The increased discomfort began interfering with daily activities and multiple steroid injections offered relief for only a few weeks.

“The pain was so severe that if I had to walk more than a block, I’d think seriously about whether I really needed to do it. I couldn’t find a comfortable position to sit and I couldn’t stand for even short periods of time without support,” said Cheshire. “I love horseback riding and when moving my horse into a trot became breathtakingly painful, that was my last straw.”

She visited an orthopedic surgeon who discussed a hip replacement procedure to relieve her arthritis, but Cheshire didn’t want to have a surgery that would involve a long recovery as she wanted to get back to riding horses as quickly as possible. She also wanted to find a surgeon she completely trusted.

Through further research she came across the SuperPath^® Total Hip Replacement technique by MicroPort, a method whereby the implant is built inside the body, so the hip is not dislocated or twisted into unnatural positions during surgery, which is a common element to many other hip procedures. In March 2011, at the recommendation of two physicians who had patients who highly recommended their hip replacement surgeon, she contacted the inventor of the SuperPath^® technique, Dr. Jimmy Chow of the Arizona Center for Bone & Joint Disorders, and scheduled a consultation.

Dr. Chow confirmed that she would be a good candidate for a total hip replacement with the SuperPath^® technique and explained that he expected her to be able to walk right after the surgery.

Cheshire went in for surgery on the morning of May 25, 2011 and was standing by the afternoon and wandering the hospital halls with a walker the next morning before her release that day. Once she returned home, she transitioned from a walker to a cane and was walking a mile per day within one week.

“My recovery was quick and I was surprised that – although most patients do have to go through physical therapy – I didn’t have to participate in any physical therapy. A week after surgery I was able to go up and down stairs,” said Cheshire. “I was back to water aerobics two and a half weeks after the surgery and after about a month I was back riding my horse, pain free… it was phenomenal.”

The SuperPath^® technique, from MicroPort, is a surgical method whereby the implant is built inside the body, so the hip is never twisted into unnatural positions during surgery — a common element to many other hip procedures. The SuperPath^® technique enables surgeons to take into account each patient’s unique anatomy, select the most appropriate implant and selectively release a single tendon during surgery, only if necessary.

These results are specific to this individual only. Individual results and activity levels after surgery vary and depend on many factors including age, weight and prior activity level. There are risks and recovery times associated with surgery and there are certain individuals who should not undergo surgery.

Only a physician can tell you if this product and associated procedure are right for you and your unique circumstances. Please consult with a physician for complete information regarding benefits, risks and possible outcomes.