Testimonials
I have suffered with osteoarthritis of the hips for a number of years. Nine months ago, I had a total hip replacement in my left leg at the Joint Clinic and then 6 months ago I also had a revision of an earlier replacement in my right hip. I had my first hip replacement when I was in my 50s in Cardiff. I used to play ‘Hooker’ for Cardiff, Rugby team, in fact I was the captain of the Cardiff Rugby team, I also played for the Barbarians. During my Rugby career, I suffered many injuries. I even had a broken neck.
There is a school of thought that the arthritis happened because of the Rugby injuries, I’m not sure. I tried to put off having the operation by swimming and this helped for a couple of years. But when the pain became too much I asked to be referred to the Joint Clinic. I can’t speak too highly of Mr Reading and his team. They were kind and reassuring and promptly gave me the treatment I needed to quickly get me back on my feet.
When you are in pain you feel miserable and it spoils all your fun. But now, I am swimming again, I am pain free and really looking forward to my holidays once more. I have similar problems in my shoulder and Mr Reading has given me an injection to keep the pain under control but when that is not enough I shall be back to the Joint Clinic for the necessary surgery without hesitation.
William Gareth Davies, Worcestershire
I had been experiencing pain in my lower back which was radiating down to my calves and I had been suffering like this for several months. I tried everything I could think of to relieve it, including physiotherapy and acupuncture, without success. I am a busy company director so had to continue working but it became extremely difficult as I was unable to walk very far and driving was very awkward. I am a keen golfer and the constant pain was making it very uncomfortable to play.
I knew about The Joint Clinic so asked my GP to refer me. I met Mr Wasserberg who arranged an MRI scan on the same day and this revealed that I had a trapped sciatic nerve. Mr Wasserberg was keen to avoid surgery so first tried to resolve the problem by giving me an epidural steroid injection. Although this provided a little relief for a while the pain returned so he recommended that I should have an operation to remove the piece of disc that was pressing on the nerve root as well as removing a piece of bone that was narrowing the canal. I am more than happy with the outcome, the operation was a success and I am now free from pain and able to go about my work and leisure pursuits as normal.
Paul Bethell, Shropshire
I am a keen sportswoman. I have completed the Devizes to Westminster canoe race twice, I play hockey and ride horses competitively in pony club events. I have skied since I was a toddler. Just after my 18th birthday, whilst on a family skiing holiday, on the last run of the day, I took a bad turn and I fell over and felt severe pain in my knee. I didn’t realise I had done anything bad so I gritted my teeth and skied back down to the village. The pain became a dull ache and the knee was swollen and remained swollen for a couple of weeks. It then started to dislocate if I rotated or over extended the knee. It was very frustrating and seriously hampering my sporting activities so I was referred to Mr Turner at The Joint Clinic.
I had an MRI scan which showed that I had severed the Anterior Cruciate Ligament and there was also some cartilage damage. Within 2 weeks of my first consultation Mr Turner operated on my knee. There was a period where I could not bear any weight on it but by the end of the summer I was riding again. I took a gap year after my ‘A’ levels and spent December to May in the French Alps working in a restaurant during the evenings and skiing and snowboarding almost every day. I am now at Loughborough University and regularly play hockey and have taken up White Water racing in a racing kayak.
Thanks to the Joint Clinic – especially Mr Turner I am back to peak fitness and am even trialling for the GB student world squad for September 2006!!
Kat Burbeck, Wiltshire
I was suffering from excruciating pain in my knee. It was so bad that I could hardly walk. My GP arranged an examination and I was told I had Osteoarthritis in my hip and would need a total hip replacement. The waiting list at my local NHS hospital is three to six months. After waiting for three months the pain was much worse. I am only 63 years old and usually very active. My hobby is gardening but even the simplest tasks were impossible. I was miserable and in constant pain and I wanted my life back.
A friend recommended The Joint Clinic and within a week of meeting Mr Reading I had a new hip. The next day I was back on my feet and, best of all, pain free. A week later I was walking along the seafront near my home in South Sea. I had been very frightened of having the operation but Mr Reading and his staff were warm, friendly and reassuring.
Their confidence and professionalism put me so entirely at ease that I felt I was in very safe hands at all times. If I have any future problems with my joints I shall not hesitate to go back to The Joint Clinic.
June Rivett, Portsmouth