For nearly a year, Sullivan, Mo. resident, Garnet Rutledge, 79, dealt with inexplicable pain in her right knee causing her to limp when she walked. She tried a knee brace and outpatient physical therapy, which offered temporary relief, but nothing really seemed to help get rid of the pain.
“I had some X-rays done, which showed a little deterioration.” said Rutledge. “I was told it was likely due to osteoarthritis. Even my ankle had started to bother me. At that point, I figured I needed to find an orthopedic specialist.”
Then, one day, while reading the local newspaper, Rutledge came across an ad for Paul Frewin, MD, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon who specializes in hip, knee, and shoulder surgery at Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital. She was impressed with his credentials and called that day to make an appointment.
Dr. Frewin is part of the Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital Orthopedic Clinic, which opened in June 2023 and offers comprehensive orthopedic care to patients, ranging from adolescents to adults. Some of the services include the evaluation and treatment of degenerative osteoarthritis and total joint replacement surgery of the hip and knee.
She was instructed to get some X-rays done on her hip before the consultation.
“At first, I thought that seemed a little strange, given that I was dealing with knee pain, but I figured he’s the expert, so I moved forward with getting the X-rays of my hips,” said Rutledge.
During her first meeting with Dr. Frewin, Rutledge was shocked to learn her hip joint was the cause of her knee pain problems. She had never experienced any issues with her hip, but the X-rays showed her right hip joint had completely deteriorated to being bone-on-bone.
“Many patients are surprised to learn that an issue with the hip can lead to pain in the knee,” said Dr. Frewin. “Hip arthritis can also cause knee pain even when there is nothing wrong with the knee. There is a shared common nerve supply of the hip and the knee such that knee pain can be the predominate pain symptom of hip arthritis.”
Dr. Frewin confirmed Rutlege had osteoarthritis in her hip. Since the cartilage was nearly gone, she had chronic inflammation that affected her knee, and would need a total hip replacement. The good news is any knee pain associated with osteoarthritis in the hip improves following a total hip replacement.
Rutledge was relieved to have an answer to her knee pain and the promise of a resolution with total hip replacement surgery. She underwent some pre-operative counseling to prepare her for the upcoming surgery and recovery.
“I think Dr. Frewin is a gift to the world,” said Rutledge. “He’s so professional and full of integrity. He explained everything to me, which made me really comfortable throughout the entire process. I had no doubt he would do a wonderful job.”
On Tuesday, September 5, 2023, Rutledge arrived at Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital – just a 15-minute drive from her home – where Dr. Frewin performed a total replacement of her right hip. The surgery was a success, and she went home two days later with home health and orders for physical therapy for the next eight weeks.
“My entire experience was absolutely wonderful – from the minute I stepped foot into the hospital and got registered and then headed to the operating room,” said Rutledge“ I don’t have a single complaint. Everyone was so nice and did their job professionally. My operation went well, and I never had any post-surgery pain.”
Better yet, Rutledge is no longer experiencing the knee pain that had plagued her for the last year. Six months after her surgery, she is moving much better and without a limp. She continues to do her exercises at home.
“I encourage everyone dealing with joint pain to do your homework and find a good provider,” said Rutledge. “We are lucky to have Dr. Frewin and his services available here in Sullivan. You also need to do the work with therapy during your session and then on your own. You get out of it what you put into it.”
Rutledge recently had her six-month check-up with Dr. Frewin, who was impressed to see how well she’s been doing since her surgery.
“I’m truly delighted with how well Mrs. Rutledge has done following her hip replacement,” said Dr. Frewin. “It’s definitely a team effort – from the amazing assistance from my orthopedic nurse, Kassidy, to our talented operating room staff and the caring skill of our nurses on the surgical ward – we have the best supporting team here at Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital that I’ve ever worked with!”
The Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital Orthopedic Clinic is open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. To make an appointment with Dr. Frewin at the Clinic, please call (573) 468-1974.