Gentry’s have new lease on life with new shoulders
Retired pediatrician James Gentry, MD, and his wife, Carol, had been living with shoulder pain for years.
Dr. Gentry injured his left shoulder in 1989 during a family football game. Slings, cold packs and lots of ibuprofen were regular parts of his life.
Mrs. Gentry’s left shoulder pain developed more slowly. A former nurse, she says her repeated use and transferring patients from beds to wheelchairs had taken its toll. She tried physical therapy, ice packs, ibuprofen and even cortisone injections.
They had a personal trainer and pushed through the pain, continuing to shoot sporting clays, swim and practice yoga. But the pain persisted.
In 2012, they retired from their professional lives and moved to Calhoun to be near family.
Once in Calhoun, through other people with shoulder problems, they heard about Mitch Frix, MD, orthopedic surgeon. After being evaluated by Frix, he talked with them about reverse complete shoulder replacement. The Gentry’s decided to move ahead with the surgeries.
Mrs. Gentry’s shoulder replacement was in 2014 at Hamilton Medical Center in Dalton. “From nursing coordinator to hospital admissions, surgery, discharge nurse and follow- up physical therapy, everything was flawless,” she says.
Once she was cleared to swim again, she says she can’t stop. “It was the best decision I have ever made,” she adds. “I can only look forward and tell others not to put off surgery if it’s needed.”
“Swimming with my mom is painful, yes, painful,” says Laura ( Gentry) Campbell, the Gentry’s daughter. “I’m a swim coach for my local high school and club, yet my spirited mother out swims me in yardage. I will take that joy of her out lapping me any day!”
Frix replaced Dr. Gentry’s left shoulder at Hamilton in 2015. He says he had the same experience that his wife did. “The hospital experience was again flawless,” he says. With 42 years experience as a physician, 26 of them in the U. S. Navy, he was no stranger to patient experience.
Hamilton Medical Center is Dr. James Gentry and his wife, Carol, above, exercise regularly now that they have had shoulder replacement. Carol, right, takes joy in swimming again now that she’s had her shoulder surgery. certified by The Joint Commission in shoulder replacement, as well as hip and knee replacement. Also, CareChex ranked Hamilton the number one hospital in the North Georgia and Chattanooga area for joint replacement.
“Shoulder surgery ( complete shoulder replacement) has been thoroughly successful for me,” says Dr. Gentry. “For the past year I have had a new lease on life – golfing, sporting clays, hunting, fishing, playing with dogs and grandchildren. I am also swimming better than ever. Did I forget horseback riding? Whoops! The wife and Dr. Frix are not supposed to
know about that one.” “Competing with my father in a skeet shooting contest or sporting clays is now extraordinary, and sadly, I rarely win,” says Campbell. “However, the smile on my father’s face is heavenly!”
“To have good results, it takes a lot of work ( therapy and rehabilitation),” says Dr. Gentry. “But it’s worth it.”
For those who suffer with chronic shoulder, hip or knee pain, even the most basic tasks can be difficult. Options for reducing or eliminating pain include exercise, weight loss, physical therapy, medication and if needed, joint replacement surgery.
Frix is one of two fellowship trained shoulder surgeons in this area. Nick Reed, MD, works with Frix and holds the certification as well. Both physicians are Calhoun residents and see patients in their Calhoun office.
“Joint replacement is a very effective way to eliminate joint pain,” says Reed. “These types of surgeries have changed significantly over the years. Joint replacement designs have improved in function and longevity to benefit patients’ active lifestyles for a longer period of time.”
Campbell says she’s very appreciative for the success of her parents’ shoulder surgeries. “Mere words cannot express the impact that the total reverse shoulder replacement has made on our lives as a family and especially for my parents,” she says. “Aging is not an easy road, but without mobility of the shoulder, it can be depressing, debilitating and excruciating. As the grown child watching, it was heart wrenching. After this surgery my parents are ‘ back!’”
For more information about joint replacement or about Hamilton’s free joint replacement educational seminars, contact Hamilton’s orthopedic nurse navigator at 706- 272- 6511 or jointmoves@ hhcs. org.