Yvonne Fensom
Yvonne, a full-time deputy headteacher from Buckinghamshire, had been suffering from arthritis since her 30s which prevented her from continuing her many hobbies which include gardening, camping, and dancing.
"I am a full-time teaching deputy head at a combined school in Buckinghamshire and had many hobbies such as gardening, walking, going to the gym, dancing, playing golf, DIY and camping - which I pursued before my arthritis prevented or made it difficult for me to participate in. I was born in 1952 and first noticed I had a problem in my 30s. This seems to have been a hereditary thing as my mother also suffered with it, although not quite so young.
"It progressively became worse, until in my late 40s, I was waddling and found I could not walk very far or carry out any of my interests without being in pain at the time or suffering afterwards. I also found it difficult to sleep at night as I couldn't get comfortable. My GP said I was too young for hip replacement, so I soldiered on with cod-liver oil tablets and aspirin when the pain became too bad.
"I was determined not to take anti-inflammatory tablets as I did not want to become dependant on drugs. I tried various alternative remedies including Aloe Vera juice - none of which solved the problem of the pain. I finally tried injections which were also unsuccessful. By this time I was under the hospital and asked the surgeon about resurfacing as an alternative to full replacement. He agreed and I was put on the waiting list, which was a year long.
"Within the year I had a date and at the pre-operative meeting with the surgeon, I asked if he would do both hips at the same time as they were both equally as bad. Although he agreed, I had to wait for three weeks before he had a theatre slot long enough to perform the four-hour operation.
"After coming round from the operation, the first thing I noticed was the lack of pain. I was out of hospital after six days, walking on two crutches and able to climb stairs with the crutches. Once I was home I loaned a wheelchair from the Red Cross and set about my rehabilitation.
"I was given physiotherapy exercises to do, which I stuck to religiously and walked every day, aiming for two miles in six weeks. The hardest part was training myself to walk without a lilt, so towards the end of the six weeks, I reduced the distance and concentrated on the quality of movement. By the time I went for my six week check I was walking without sticks, although I had to really concentrate to walk smoothly.
"After my check-up I started to drive again and returned to the gym to strengthen my muscles. I gradually became stronger and less tired. After three months I returned to full-time work, although I found it exhausting working 50 hours a week and ended up having three weeks off in December to rest as I had overdone it. Unfortunately I was not in a job I could ease back into gradually. Returning to work after Christmas, I regained my strength and each month felt stronger. By February 2004 I was back dancing rock-and-roll once a week, and hope to take medals in October.
"It has now been nearly two years since my operation and I live a full and active life, resuming all the hobbies I had before my arthritis. I am hoping to take up sailing again next year. Having the operation was the best thing I did and my quality of life is back as it used to be before I had arthritis. I would recommend it to any one!"
