Arthritis affects people differently. For Aston Villa fan Stephen Leavy, arthritis came on quick, but its impact was strong. “It caught me unawares. Didn't know I had anything at all like arthritis. I was walking with the dog and basically my knee just gave way, fell on the floor. Completely unable to stop myself and I was just quite surprised and so was the dog!”
Stephen normally walked his dog, a springer spaniel, a few times a day so was used to going out regularly for long walks.
Stephen’s condition deteriorated rapidly and found he could no longer walk his dog on his own, go out to the pub to meet his friends, enjoy his garden or catch a game at Villa Park where he’d been a season ticket holder for over thirty years.
He was referred into the physiotherapy department at the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital and then on to consultant orthopaedic surgeon, Mr Sidhu. Stephen ended up having a unicompartment knee replacement, also known as a partial knee replacement.
Stephen was discharged and back in his own home the day after surgery. “It was very good. I mean, getting home, I knew someone was at home who was going to look after me very well. Being on my own I wouldn't have been safe, so knowing someone was there was really good. I really liked that someone visited me at home from the Royal Orthopaedic Community Service the next day to work out how I was and going through all my medications.”
Patients are given a handbook before their joint replacement as part of the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital’s JointCare pathway. The handbook supports patients as they prepare for surgery, and for their recovery too. Stephen adds: “I would say, get ready. Once you're set, you should start doing the exercises you're given. Pay attention to all the information and advice you’re given and read the knee replacement handbook. I do think reading the handbook and doing the exercises it recommended made my healing quite fast. I remember it was the fourth week after and I'd already managed to get rid of the crutches and just needed my walking stick. I used a small exercise bike beforehand quite a lot, watching the TV while I did this which I think really prepared me for the surgery, making sure I was as strong as can be for the recovery.
I really enjoyed the physio, the team at the ROH gave us an hour a week for a month and it was very reassuring. They measure how the knee moves, and every time I went it got better and better. It’s a group session which was nice for motivation for everyone. I followed all the advice given to me - before the operation I'd wake up and be in my bed for half an hour doing the exercises they gave us.”
Stephen Leavy and his consultant, Mr Manpreet Sidhu
Stephen’s recovery has gone really well and he’s now able to return to Villa Park for matches. He comments on looking forward to getting back to watch his favourite team in person and getting back to living his life fully: “I’m a season ticket owner, have been for over 30 years, so I would go all the time. I have to get the train to Aston and then walk to the park, so I’ve just not been able to get to any games before the surgery. Unfortunately my dog passed away so we don’t have our walks to look forward to, but it’s been nice to be strong enough to go on holiday and take life easy– walking, enjoying the woods and beaches and getting back to my garden and flowers.”
For more information about choosing the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital for your hip or knee replacement, visit Royal Orthopaedic Hospital - Choice.
