Doing a Double Take on Knee Surgery A North Potomac woman replaced both knees at once to quickly gain back her active life
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Climbing stairs,
to end,” Candler says. “Before surgery, there even walking, was is a joint replacement workshop, led by Judy becoming too painful for Marilyn Candler, [Mardirossian], who’s specially trained in 77, of North Potomac. Arthritis in her knees joint replacement. My daughter and husband was also keeping her from one of her most also attended; it was great education for all cherished hobbies: playing music. three of us.” “When knee pain keeps you In the total joint replacefrom participating in life, it’s ment class, which is required time to consider knee replacefor all joint patients prior to ment,” says Andrew Bender, surgery, Mardirossian—the M.D., orthopedic surgeon at joint replacement program Shady Grove Adventist Hospital. coordinator at Shady Grove Dr. Bender says it’s also Adventist Hospital—prepares time to consult with an patients for what to expect durorthopedist if your knee pain ing and after the procedure. keeps you awake at night Candler was up and walkor if it persists despite noning, using her new knees, the surgical treatments. Andrew Bender, M.D. day after surgery. Three days Cortisone shots no longer later, she moved to Adventist Rehabilitation eased Candler’s arthritis pain, and her Hospital of Maryland, which is next door mobility was limited: “My right knee was so to the hospital, for a week of therapy as bad and my left was starting to worsen,” she an inpatient. says. “I didn’t want to spend the next two “The recovery period is three to six years recovering from two knee surgeries.” months, whether it’s one knee or both Dr. Bender supported her request to knees,” Dr. Bender explains. “If both knees replace both knees at once, with a procedure inevitably have to be replaced, it’s a tremencalled bilateral knee replacement, at Shady dous benefit for the patient to go through Grove Adventist Hospital’s Joint Replacement that recovery period just once.” Center, which has been awarded The Joint Candler has continued outpatient rehaCommission’s Gold Seal of Approval. This bilitation three times a week, feeling stronger national certification recognizes Shady Grove with each session. Adventist Hospital’s rigorous commitment to “I’m more mobile than I’ve been in the quality standards and patient-centered care. last year or so,” she says. “I can continue The surgery was performed in October. playing the harpsichord and I am back to “They take very good care of you at Shady playing the organ!” Grove Adventist Hospital, from beginning
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Increased mobility after bilateral knee replacement and subsequent rehabilitation allowed Marilyn Candler to continue to play her instruments.
Members of the Shady Grove Adventist Hospital orthopedics care team with Judy Mardirossian (second from left).
Watch Marilyn Tell Her Story Go to blog.adventisthealthcare.com to watch Marilyn Candler’s recovery and learn more about Shady Grove Adventist Hospital’s Joint Replacement Center of Excellence.
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