Patients Attend Joint Replacement School

Dr. Christopher Peer, an Orthopaedic surgeon with North Country Orthopaedic Surgery in Newport, demonstrates the workings of an artificial knee joint at the Joint Replacement School held on Monday, May 19.

Paul Duquette of Newport Center has grown tired of his aching hip, an ache that has been brought on by the ravages of arthritis. At 53 years old some people might tell him to simply ignore the pain and limp on with his life. Paul is the Police Chief of the city of Newport. He felt that there had to be a better option.
“I finally decided I had to do something about it,” Duquette said. His primary care physician advised him to talk to an orthopeadic surgeon. There he learned he was a good candidate for hip replacement surgery. His surgery is scheduled for July.
Paul said his doctor did a good job of explaining the procedure, but he was also offered the opportunity to attend a two hour “Joint Replacement School” at North Country Hospital. He wanted to learn as much as he could about the total experience. He was one of 17 people to attend the class on Monday, May 19. This was the third class held at North Country this year. All of the classes have been full.

Following an informative session, the participants in the joint replacement school were given a tour of the operating room. Deb Beauchesne RN, walked the participants through the surgical process.

The class is a time for people, some who have already been scheduled for surgery and others who are only contemplating it, to learn more about joint replacement surgery and what to expect after their surgery. It also gives them the opportunity to talk to the medical team that will care for them before, during, and after the surgery. The team, which includes Dr. Christopher Peer, an orthopaedic surgeon with North Country Orthopaedic Surgery, provides an in depth, yet easy to understand look into joint replacement surgery.
“The Joint Replacement Schools are held so that the people considering a total joint replacement will have all the knowledge they need to make what is a difficult and often very scary decision,” Robin Caldwell said. “Our hope is to alleviate their fear of the unknown.” Caldwell is the office manger for North Country Orthopaedic Surgery.
“When we schedule the patients to attend this class we strongly suggest that they bring someone along with them, preferably, the person who will be helping them after their surgery,” Caldwell said. “I spoke with one patient who came in for her pre-operative physical and she mentioned that her friend had heard things that she had missed. Her comment was that she was worrying and not listening to everything. She was happy that she had brought her friend along.”

Paul Duquette of Newport Center, chief of the Newport City Police Department, listens intently during a tour of the operating room, trying to learn as much as he can about the procedure before his hip replacement surgery in July.

Christine Beerworth of Jay, Vt., provided her unique insights into joint replacement surgery. Christine is a retired nurse, but she wasn't there to share her medical knowledge of joint replacement surgery. She was there for the third time, to share her experience of her own knee replacement surgery. “The recovery period for a joint replacement surgery is several months,” she said “but the end result of the surgery is worth it.” She emphasized that while the surgeons do the surgery, it is up to the patients to work closely with, and follow the advice of, their physical therapists and the others involved in their post operative care.
When the classroom portion of the two hour class was completed, the participants were given a tour of the operating room. The participants continued to ask questions and get clear, concise answers.
After the tour, Duquette admitted that some aspects of the joint replacement surgery unsettled him a bit, but he said he'd rather fully know what he was facing than not know. In addition, he appreciated Beerworth's firsthand insights into joint replacement surgery, the recovery period, and life with a new joint. He knows now that it is time for him to replace that aching joint with a new one and move on with his life.
The next Joint Replacement School has been scheduled for July 28th. For more information please call North Country Orthopaedics at 334-4175.
The mission of North Country Orthopaedics , the Surgical team and the Physical therapists is: To provide quality and personalized care, while giving their patients, their families and caregivers the opportunity to have an informed approach to their decision for Total Joint Replacement.

By Scott Wheeler

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