Hip Replacement Surgery Offers Independence [Anita Ailts]

I'm Anita Ailts. I live in Brookings, South Dakota. I just kind of hang out at home most of the time in the summer I get out more and have my hobbies. 

How long did you have hip pain?

I had pain for about 10 months and had been to the doctor a few times, I think. 

Why did you decide on hop replacement surgery?

We did try cortisone one time. That didn't do nothing. Well, when I went to my primary doctor and took the X-ray, he sent me straight to this guy. And he'd only been here about a week. And my husband and I went to see him. And I said, "Start right now." You know, it was scary. But I was so sick of the pain, I had to do something.

Why was local surgery important?

I was just so tickled I could get it done here, you know, instead of traveling back and forth to Sioux Falls. I was really happy to hear we had a doctor here that could do the surgery. 

What was your impression of Dr. Dressander?

He was wonderful. I mean, he answered everything my husband and I wanted. 

How was your recovery?

It only took me like a week to get up and be able to walk without the walker. And the next week, I was walking on my own. He was fabulous. 

How was the day of surgery?

It was good. You know, the nurses, everybody, they treated us well, answered every question. Dr. Dressander came in and talked to me before and after. So everything went really good. 

How was your stay in the hospital?

They helped me a lot more being able to get up out of bed. And one of the nurses would walk me around the corridor. Then she'd make me go farther. I didn't really want to, but I knew I had to do it to get through this. 

What did you appreciate most?

I think everybody was so good at what they did. Didn't like getting woken up every hour or whatever, you know, because after you have surgery, you just want to sleep. But it all turned out good. 

How has surgery changed your life?

I used to get so depressed, because if I wanted to go do something with my kids, I couldn't do that because I couldn't walk. I couldn't make Thanksgiving dinner because I could not walk. Man, did I feel guilty about that. So, yeah, it all turned out wonderful. I mean, you think you're at a certain age, and you're going, "Am I done now?" And I couldn't accept that.

What would your life look like if you hadn't had surgery?

I probably wouldn't be able to move. I actually wouldn't want to go on, I don't think. I mean, when you're having a hard time walking back and forth to the bathroom, and I couldn't do steps at all. I avoided steps no matter what. Moved my bedroom to the main floor. It's great. I can go steps now. I'm not ready to run the back forty, but I could probably walk it.

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