My name is Amy Patillo. I have been married to my husband, Lee, for 33 years and we have three great kids. I graduated from nursing school in 1996 and have now been a nurse for 30 years. Oh, and I play pickleball… a lot.
How Pickleball Became Part of My Life
Pickleball wasn’t something I grew up with—I actually had no idea what it was at first. My son had been playing with his friends for some time and told me how much fun it was. One night, my husband and I decided to go out to Moncrief Park in Gardendale just to watch some people playing. We thought we were just going to spectate, but a couple of people on the courts coaxed us out there to try it.
From that night on, my husband and I have been hooked. Before my injury, I was playing 4 to 5 days a week, (basically any day that ends in “y”). We play at many places, including Bill Noble, Magic City, Trussville, and now The Picklr Birmingham.
Living with Foot Pain
I’ve had trouble with my feet for years; bunions and plantar fasciitis. As I increased my activity, my feet would swell and hurt to the point that I was just miserable. I put off doing anything invasive for as long as possible. But, it finally reached the point I knew I had to fix the problem if I wanted to be active long term.
In December 2025, I had a bunionectomy. The goal was simple: relieve the pain so I could get back to the life and activities I love.
Choosing Andrews Sports Medicine and Dr. Norman Waldrop
My connection to Andrews Sports Medicine and Dr. Norman Waldrop actually started through nursing. As a Worker’s Compensation Nurse Case Manager, I saw firsthand how well my patients did under Dr. Waldrop’s care. Because of that, I came to trust him deeply.
Before choosing Dr. Waldrop for my foot, I saw another podiatrist. He basically told me I needed a bunionectomy, but didn’t really address the other area of my foot I was actually having the most pain. The diagnosis felt incomplete.
When I saw Dr. Waldrop, things were different. As soon as I started explaining where my pain was and what I was experiencing, he immediately understood what the correct diagnosis was and what additional procedure needed to be done to correct it. I was finally at peace with having surgery.
I had x-rays the same day and we were able to quickly move forward with surgery scheduling. Everything—from the evaluation to surgery scheduling—went smoothly. Knowing Dr. Waldrop understood all my complaints and how to correct each of them put my mind at ease.
The Hardest Part: Recovery
The recovery process was no joke. I had to be non–weight-bearing for six weeks, (and that was the longest six weeks of my life). I’m normally very active, so the sedentary lifestyle was a big adjustment.
After those first six weeks, I was able to get into a shoe and start bearing weight. But, there were still limits. I couldn’t do any high-impact activities until the twelve week mark.
Still, by week seven, I was able to start drilling in pickleball again! No full-out play, but it was progress.
Getting Back on the Court (and the Trails and Slopes)
Before surgery, pickleball was a huge part of my routine; league and rec play during the week and tournaments some weekends. Pickleball is not just exercise and competition; it is an opportunity to spend time with people from all walks of life. We’ve made such good friends through pickleball!
I went from being in constant pain and dreading how my foot would feel after activity, to being able to move again painlessly. The surgery and recovery were challenging, but they were absolutely worth it to get my active life back.
Gratitude and Looking Ahead
Looking back, I’m grateful I decided to address the problem rather than living with the pain. I’m also incredibly thankful for Dr. Waldrop and the team at Andrews Sports Medicine. Knowing his background, his work with my work comp patients, and now my own experience, I truly trust his expertise.
Today, I’m back doing what I love—playing pickleball (and planning our next adventure).
This journey wasn’t easy, but it’s my comeback story—and I’m just getting started.
