Hip Injury/Condition
Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy (PRP Therapy)
Back to the Steps, the Stadium, and the Life I Love
I grew up in the Spring Garden area of Northeast Alabama, and I'm a retired schoolteacher. I taught for 44 years, so my legs did a lot of walking and standing on cement floors.
I've always been a very active person. I love watching my two grandsons play sports, going to Alabama football games, and traveling.
Unfortunately, I started having problems with my left hip, and walking up inclines and stairs became increasingly difficult. It got to where it was really affecting my quality of life.
When Hip Pain Got in the Way
I had been dealing with hip pain for about two years. I tried physical therapy and steroid injections, but I was still struggling.
Eventually, my primary care doctor told me that surgery might be the next step, and I really didn't want a hip replacement.
Going to Alabama football games had become especially difficult. I'm a season ticket holder, and my seats are in the upper deck.
I remember thinking I might not be able to keep going anymore. It took me forever to get up to my seats, and I was in terrible pain. I'd even take Advil before going to the games just to try to manage it.
I knew I needed to find an answer.
Finding Dr. Colberg at Andrews Sports Medicine
My daughter is a physician assistant in Georgia, and she could see how much my hip pain was affecting my everyday life. She wanted to help me find something that would allow me to get back to doing the things I enjoyed.
She suggested I look into platelet-rich plasma, or PRP, injections. She had read about people having success with it, and I started doing some research of my own. I saw how many athletes had used it, and I thought it was worth a try.
I started searching online for places that offered PRP injections, and that's how I found Dr. Ricardo Colberg at Andrews Sports Medicine. I specifically sought him out after doing my research, and I'm so glad I did.
When I first went to see him, he asked when I wanted to have the injection. I told him, "As soon as you can."
He said, "Well, what about today?"
I had driven myself, so I asked if that would be a problem. He said it wouldn't, and I went ahead and had the injection that same day.
A Difference I Could Feel
Within two days, it was amazing how much better my hip felt. I would have been happy with the results I had after just those first two days. That's how much better it was.
But within a week, it was like a miracle.
I was so excited that I actually called the Andrews office because I wanted to tell someone how much it had helped me.
The results lasted about 13 months. When I looked back at my calendar and realized it had been a little over a year, I told my daughter. She thought that was phenomenal because she had seen how much I was struggling before and how much of a difference it had made.
By football season, I was able to walk up to row 24 in the upper deck without a problem at all. I hadn't been able to climb those steps like that in probably five years.
I could just zip right up the steps.
Enjoying Italy and Getting Back to What I Love
When I started feeling a little discomfort returning, I went back for another injection in June. I had a trip to Italy coming up, and I knew how much walking and climbing that was going to involve.
I made that trip without a problem at all.
I climbed hundreds, maybe thousands, of steps in Italy, and we did so much walking. After struggling with my hip for so long, being able to enjoy that trip without those problems was unbelievable to me.
My husband also had knee surgery at Andrews Sports Medicine for a meniscus tear and received a PRP injection as well. His recovery was unbelievable to us, too, and he only missed one day of work.
He and I are both real believers in this procedure because of what we've experienced.
Why I'm Sharing My Story
I wish more people knew about PRP. I tell my friends about it because a lot of people have never heard of it, and I want others to know about something that has helped me so much.
I spent 44 years as a teacher, and when you've spent your life in that profession, you want to help people. That's one of the reasons I'm so glad to share my experience.
Before all of this, I was beginning to wonder, "Is this it? Is this how it's going to be?" I had always been an active person, and it was difficult to think that I might not be able to keep doing the things I loved.
Now I can go to Alabama football games, travel, and enjoy the active life I've always loved.
I'm so glad my research led me to Dr. Colberg at Andrews Sports Medicine. I can't say enough about the difference this treatment has made for me.
I'm talking honestly, from the bottom of my heart. This has truly, truly changed my life.
For me, it's been a game changer.
Disclaimer: Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy is an elective, self-pay procedure and is not covered by commercial health insurance plans. Individual patient outcomes may vary based on the patient’s medical condition, overall health and response to treatment. The results described in this patient Comeback Story are specific to this individual and are not intended to guarantee or imply similar outcomes for other patients. PRP therapy may not be appropriate for everyone. A consultation with a qualified medical provider is necessary to determine treatment eligibility.
