Focused Joint Care Offers Relief from Pain

The Joint Center Team: Dr. Thomas B. Rivers, Judy Mixon, PT; LaFonda McKee, OTR; Lynn Belew, PT; Dr. Michael Kent, Diane Anderle, RN; Dr. Vishal Shah, Metta Jain, PT; Andrea Morrow, Music Therapist; Jhonnel Pasuquin, OTR and Dr. Arthur Chau. Photo by Danny Nguyen.

The Joint Center Team: Dr. Thomas B. Rivers, Judy Mixon, PT; LaFonda McKee, OTR; Lynn Belew, PT; Dr. Michael Kent, Diane Anderle, RN; Dr. Vishal Shah, Metta Jain, PT; Andrea Morrow, Music Therapist; Jhonnel Pasuquin, OTR and Dr. Arthur Chau. Photo by Danny Nguyen.

By Nancy V. Mills –

Milton Hollis now laughs about how bowlegged he was before joint replacement surgery on both of his knees. Before his surgeries, day-to-day life consisted of ibuprofen and constant pain.

With accumulated employee sick leave and a spirit determined to alleviate the pain and regain his mobility, Hollis sought treatment at the Memorial Hermann Joint Center at Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Hospital.

Memorial Hermann Joint Centers feature highly skilled, affiliated bone and joint specialists using the most advanced treatments – from new prescription options to minimally invasive surgical interventions. The Centers employ a team approach to provide high-quality, innovative and individualized care for each patient.

Hollis said his knees had troubled him for years. He played sports until his late 20s and always worked in a job where he was on his feet all day long.  “Before my knee replacements, I looked like I’d been out on the range for more than a hundred years,” chuckled Hollis, a United States Postal Service clerk. “You could have set me on a horse, and you wouldn’t have even had to bend my knees.”

Today, this Wharton resident is happy to finally be experiencing freedom from joint pain.

Causes of Joint Pain

Diane Anderle, RN, with Memorial Hermann Joint Center patient Milton Hollis. Photo by John Lynch.

Diane Anderle, RN, with Memorial Hermann Joint Center patient Milton Hollis. Photo by John Lynch.

Joint pain is the most common cause of disability in the United States. It is triggered by many different conditions, including arthritis, trauma and overuse of the affected joint.

According to one national survey, one-third of adults reported having joint pain within the previous 30 days. The most common complaint was knee pain, followed by shoulder and hip pain. Joint pain is more common as adults get older.

Arthritis, an inflammation of the joints where the bones meet, is the leading cause of joint pain. Although there are more than 200 different types of arthritis, the most common is osteoarthritis. This “wear-and-tear” arthritis occurs when the protective cartilage on the ends of the bones wears down over time and results in bones rubbing together.

Sometimes joint pain is caused by trauma related to an old work or sports-related injury. Repetitive activity can also lead to joint pain. With rest, symptoms may disappear but frequently return when re-engaging in the activity that initiated the pain.

Treating Joint Pain

Affiliated physicians at the Joint Center are well-trained to evaluate and properly diagnose joint pain to determine its cause and the best treatment. Sometimes new prescription medications, including ones applied to the skin, as well as joint injections and physical therapy, provide pain relief. When these conservative treatments no longer provide relief, minimally invasive joint replacement surgery can offer a return to daily activities.

“Joint replacement is about quality of life,” said Thomas B. Rivers, M.D., an affiliated physician who is part of the Joint Center team at Memorial Hermann Sugar Land and specializes in knee replacements. “We’re not trying to make someone 18 again and an athlete but trying to make daily life more enjoyable and less painful.”

Recent advancements in joint replacement surgery now enable surgeons to more accurately position implanted prosthetic joints, which helps improve patient outcomes. With better alignment, patients experience more comfort and functionality and implants last longer.

“In the past five years, we’ve seen a significant improvement in implant materials and more patient-specific positioning guides that help us perform a more focused, and often shorter, joint replacement surgery,” said Dr. Rivers.

The Joint Center also incorporates improved pain management techniques to speed post-surgical recovery. “We’re proactive in treating pain so it doesn’t spike, and patients can walk within hours of their joint replacement surgery,” said Dr. Rivers. “As a result, hospital stays are generally shorter than they were five years ago.”

Team Approach Delivers Personalized Care

Dr. Thomas B. Rivers, Dr. Michael Kent, Nurse Navigator Diane Anderle, RN, Dr. Vishal Shah and Dr. Arthur Chau. Photo by Danny Nguyen.

Dr. Thomas B. Rivers, Dr. Michael Kent, Nurse Navigator Diane Anderle, RN, Dr. Vishal Shah and Dr. Arthur Chau. Photo by Danny Nguyen.

The Joint Center team at Memorial Herman Sugar Land is committed to helping patients enjoy a new, pain-free life. For individuals who elect to undergo knee and hip replacement surgery, personalized care is delivered by a highly-trained and patient-centered staff of affiliated orthopedic surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses and therapists.

The team keeps a keen focus on helping patients control pain and gain mobility more quickly by working closely with them and their families. One member of the team is a nurse navigator, a registered nurse who is a special patient advocate.

Diane Anderle, RN, has more than 30 years of experience in orthopedic medicine and serves as the nurse navigator at the Joint Center at Memorial Hermann Sugar Land. She connects with patients and their families before surgery and follows them from surgery through recovery.

Anderle was Hollis’ first point of contact after his knee replacement surgery was scheduled. She met him, and his wife, during preregistration at the hospital.

“Diane walked me through what would happen in surgery, using a model of a knee to explain things to me and my wife,” said Hollis. “She met us the morning of surgery and stopped in every day after surgery. Even after going home, Diane would touch base with us to see how I was doing. She was wonderful. If I needed a question answered or someone’s opinion on something, she went out of her way to make sure I got what I needed.”

“I like helping and educating patients,” said Anderle. “I try to take away a lot of the stress and serve as a lifeline for patients and their family members. When you educate a patient about the procedure, it reduces stress and provides for a better outcome.”

Anderle leads a preoperative education class to help patients understand what to expect during joint replacement surgery. Together, they review exercises, tips and activities that can help speed recovery. She gives all patients her phone number and email and encourages them to contact her with their questions.

On the day of surgery, Anderle is the familiar face greeting the patient and the family. She updates the family throughout the day. After surgery, she checks on the patient and, throughout the hospital stay, works closely with physicians, nurses and physical therapists to see that the patient is recovering well.

Members of the Joint Center team at Memorial Hermann Sugar Land, including Anderle, ensure patients have a smooth transition from hospital to home. This includes written instructions from surgeon and therapist, medications ordered and physical therapy and follow-up physician office visits scheduled before the patient leaves the hospital. Once patients go home, Anderle checks on their progress by phone, answers questions and provides helpful information to their physician to complete the circle of communication. If needed, she helps patients schedule follow-up appointments, mindful that technology is overwhelming for many of them.

“It’s great to have one person with the hospital who really helps patients and is with them for the entire process,” said Dr. Rivers.

“I enjoy seeing patients get well,” said Anderle. “Some patients call me weeks after their surgery to give me a report on how they did at physical therapy or when returning to work. It’s a good feeling.”

Take the First Step to Recovery

Staying active is key to staying healthy. That’s why Joint Center specialists use the most advanced treatment options to get patients moving. To learn more or to make an appointment, visit jointpain.memorialhermann.org or call 713- 272-1888.


 Am I a Candidate for Joint Replacement Surgery?

Patient Steven Ramirez with therapist Metta Jain, PT. Photo by John Lynch.

Patient Steven Ramirez with therapist Metta Jain, PT.
Photo by John Lynch.

You don’t have to live with pain. If you answer yes to any of these questions, you may be a candidate for joint replacement surgery.

Are you experiencing pain in your joint?
Is the pain in your joint tolerable but limiting your ordinary activity or work?
Does the degree of pain and discomfort sometimes require medication stronger than aspirin?
Are the symptoms present more than half of the time during the typical month?
Do you have pain in your joint when climbing the stairs without using the railing?
Are you forced to stop when you walk more than two or three blocks due to joint pain?
Do you ever use walking aids, such as a cane or walker, to assist you with walking?
Do you walk with a moderate limp?
Do you feel some pain even when you are sitting or lying down?
Does your joint sometimes give out when you are physically active?

Age is not a limiting factor if you are in reasonable health and have the desire to continue living a productive, active life.

To learn more and to watch an educational seminar, visit jointpain.memorialhermann.org. For questions or to schedule an appointment, call 713-272-1888.