Janet Ludy Petry

"...Little did I dream that I would be carting around a wonderful new hip from Biomet in Warsaw, Indiana..."

Janet Ludy [Petry] spent a great deal of her childhood summers at Lake Tippecanoe, just 12 miles away from Warsaw, Indiana, the Orthopedic Capital of the World. She is an energetic lady who loved to swim as a child and she still does to this day.

"I am 75 years old and absolutely love my exercise. I swam, cycled and walked daily until I started having a dull pain in my hip," says Petry.

No stranger to joint replacement surgery, Janet says, "I've had both knees replaced so I wasn't hesitant at all about going to my orthopedic surgeon. Besides, the pain medication for my hip pain slowed me down both physically and mentally."

Two months after the initial pain started, Janet made an appointment with her orthopedic surgeon.

"My orthopedic surgeon was great; he took the time to explain my hip osteoarthritis, the treatment plan [total hip replacement] and the physical therapy I needed after my surgery. He also gave me a packet of information to take home to review before my scheduled surgery."

After her total hip replacement procedure, Janet was encouraged by hospital staff to immediately begin her postoperative exercises.

"I knew how the postoperative exercises contributed to my quick recovery from both total knee replacements, so I was determined to continue the therapy after being discharged."

Since completing her physical therapy, Janet has returned to her active lifestyle including her daily exercise routine. She continues to swim, cycle and walk, enjoying the activities once deprived from her due to the pain.

Janet has advice for those individuals considering joint replacement.

"Do your research, know your options and listen to your doctor. Be confident in your decision for treatment. Oh, and do not skip on the physical therapy!" says Janet.

This article is meant solely as a human interest story and is not meant to constitute medical advice. Individual results may vary. Surgery involves potential risks and requires recovery time. The life of any joint replacement will depend on your age, weight, activity level, and other factors. Only an orthopedic surgeon can determine if surgery is right for you. For risks regarding total joint replacement, visit Biomet.com and talk to your orthopedic surgeon.

The persons named in this article have consented to be named and have given Biomet Inc. the exclusive right to use their personal and medical information for educational purposes.