Rita Brodina spent over 25 years working as a nurse at the Good Samaritan Society in Park River. She retired in June of 2016, looking forward to spending time with her grandkids and working in her garden. Unfortunately, hip and back pain were getting in the way of her plans.
“I wasn’t able to live my normal life,” explained Rita. “Simply walking to the garden was difficult. Bending over to get cookies out of the oven became a challenge. The pain was keeping me from my normal activities.”
Rita sought care for her pain for several months without finding the right solution. She saw a chiropractor, tried physical therapy and nothing seemed to help.
Finally, after an X-ray indicated her hip might be the culprit of most of her pain, she was referred to Dr. Jeremy Gardner at Altru Advanced Orthopedics. Wanting to avoid surgery if possible, Dr. Gardner first treated Rita with a cortisone injection to see if that would ease her pain. For a while it was successful, but after a few weeks her pain was back.
“At that point, my pain was so distracting and had been for so long that I knew a more long-term solution was necessary.”
When Rita and Dr. Gardner made the decision that a hip replacement was the right treatment, he recommended total replacement with the Mako Robotic Arm. A new addition to the treatment options at Altru Advanced Orthopedics, the Mako allowed for a more precise replacement, which in turn meant less pain and a more natural-feeling joint for Rita.
“Dr. Gardner was confident I was a good candidate for a replacement with the robotic arm,” remembers Rita. “They took a CT scan of my hip to ensure everything would match up precisely, and my new joint would be a perfect fit for me.”
Prior to her procedure, she and her husband attended an informational class held by Altru’s Joint Replacement Center so they’d know what to expect.
“The class was so important for my husband,” shared Rita. “It really showed him that he would have to be my coach and partner through this, and that he’d have a big role right after surgery. The information made him more comfortable with that and prepared us both.”
Rita had her replacement on November 21, 2016, at 7:30 a.m., and by 2:30 p.m. that same day, she was walking to the bathroom with the help of a therapist.
“It was really kind of amazing. I was up and moving so soon, already starting exercises with physical therapists in the hospital and preparing to leave the day after my surgery.”
Now, about four months later, Rita is looking forward to getting her garden ready for summer without assistance.
“Before my surgery, I was in too much pain to tend to my garden, so my kids had to help me,” shared Rita. “I’m so looking forward to doing my own flower beds.”
She’s also grateful to be more active with her grandkids since recovery.
“Before, I didn’t pick up my granddaughter,” reflected Rita. “I was unsteady, and it made me nervous. Now, she’s ten months old and I can carry her around. That feels great.”
With the advanced technology of the Mako Robotic Arm, a strong support system in her family and a dedication to her exercises to strengthen her leg and hip, Rita was able get back to an active and enjoyable retirement.
