Woman Feels Great After Hip Surgery to Fix Her Broken Hip (Lila’s Story)

October 6, 2020 | Hip, Patient Stories

After experiencing a broken hip—not once, but twice—Lila understands the importance of finding a hip surgeon and physical therapy team you can trust.

Read on to learn more about Lila’s story, and get a clearer idea of what you can expect after having surgery to repair a broken hip.

Treating a Broken Hip

In March of 2019, Lila took a cruise ship vacation. While walking in her room on the cruise ship, she slipped and fell, causing excruciating pain.

The cruise ship made a stop in Columbia, where Lila could receive care at a nearby hospital. She learned that she had a broken hip on her left side and would need a hip replacement.

She went forward with the hip replacement surgery at that hospital and then was flown back to the U.S., accompanied by a flying nurse.

Lila recalls, “The flying nurse took me back to the U.S. I couldn’t walk, and he carried me to and from the car to the plane. We flew first class back home, and once we got to O’Hare airport, I went straight to the ambulance to Glenbrook Hospital, where my internist told me to go see IBJI’s Dr. Sean Sutphen.”

Dr. Sutphen is an Orthopedic Surgeon with Fellowship Training in Adult Hip and Knee Reconstruction and Total Joint Replacement.

He assessed Lila and determined that she would need extensive physical therapy to recover from her broken hip surgery. From his recommendation, Lila took part in physical therapy for multiple weeks to get her back to her active lifestyle.

Hip Replacement Surgery

Later, in December of 2019, Lila became dizzy and unfortunately took another fall, again experiencing a broken hip. This time it was her right one.

From her previous experience with Dr. Sutphen, she knew that it was a “no brainer” to see him for her right hip replacement surgery.

“He operated on my right hip and took care of me exclusively. I enjoyed my visits with him and had great confidence in him. Dr. Sutphen spends as much time meeting with me as I need and makes sure to explain everything.”

Physical Therapy and Recovery

After Lila’s hip replacement surgery to treat her broken hip, she again began physical therapy. She was up on her feet the day after surgery with a walker.

Lila says that the physical therapy was beneficial, and she wouldn’t have walked if she didn’t do the exercises they gave her.

Life-Changing Hip Surgery at IBJI

“Dr. Sutphen doesn’t just dump you off with a ‘hello and goodbye,’ he cares about his patients. He visited me at White Hall to see my physical therapy progress after he replaced my right hip. He’s a wonderful human being.”

Dr. Sutphen has also treated Lila’s arthritic left knee with gel injections. She says that the injections have helped her left hip, which was operated on in Columbia.

“I found Dr. Sutphen to be the most caring, considerate, warm, and pleasant doctor, especially a surgeon, that I’ve ever been to. He’s such a sweetheart.”

After treatment for her broken hips, Lila says she feels pretty good.

“I am starting to walk without a cane. I’m very appreciative of how I feel after everything I’ve been through. I work out every other day with weight and balance exercises and have been able to walk outside with walking sticks, as I don’t want to take the chance of falling.”

Get Relief From Your Hip Pain Today

Hip Care and Treatment at IBJI

Whether you are just starting your hip care journey or need a second opinion for your hip pain, IBJI’s hip surgeons are here to help provide you with the necessary care for your ailment. Get the relief you are seeking with the help of IBJI.

Request an appointment with an IBJI hip surgeon to discuss treatment options like arthroscopic hip surgery and create an individualized approach to your care.

Check out IBJI’s additional online resources for hip care to learn more about conditions and read patient testimonials.