The SHARP Experience
The SHARP Experience: Nancy's Story
Cruising Toward a Pain-Free Life: Louie's Story
Louie Muñoz lived with chronic pain in both of his knees for a decade before finally discovering the treatment that worked for him.
Louie, who lives in south San Diego and is a father to two sons, works in a deli and spends many hours on his feet helping customers. In fact, most days, he spends 10 hours standing.
While Louie has always enjoyed his job, especially the opportunity to work with one of his sons, it was taking a toll. Over time, he began experiencing pain in his knees.
Louie sought care from a doctor in his community, who recommended nonsurgical treatment. When the treatment failed to relieve his pain, Louie decided to seek a second opinion from Dr. Nick Kusnezov, an orthopedic surgeon affiliated with Sharp HealthCare.
A second opinion offers a second wind
“When I first met Mr. Muñoz, I could tell he was in a great deal of pain,” Dr. Kusnezov says. “He is a very stoic gentleman, but he could barely walk. I knew this was really bothering him.”
According to Dr. Kusnezov, Louie had compensated for his severe knee arthritis over the past decade by dialing back his activity level to the point that he was unable to live an active lifestyle or do the things he loved. “It was really important to me to help get him back to being able to do those things,” Dr. Kusnezov says.
Louie asked Dr. Kusnezov if he thought surgery could eliminate his pain. When Dr. Kusnezov said yes, Louie felt confident it was the right treatment option for him.
“It was clear that Mr. Muñoz had exhausted conservative management by the time I saw him,” Dr. Kusnezov says. “With a condition like arthritis, I always try to start with the least invasive but evidence-based treatments, including physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications and injections. Ultimately, though, surgical management is a great treatment option if all else fails and the pain is significantly limiting a patient’s life.”
In Louie’s case, Dr. Kusnezov felt confident that the only reliable treatment left to address his severe knee arthritis was a total knee replacement on both sides. “I knew I could make a dramatic difference in his pain, his function and his life,” Dr. Kusnezov says.
Smooth seas ahead
Louie’s surgery was scheduled at Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center, which features state-of-the-art surgical suites for orthopedic procedures and many other conditions. He felt excited as he and his wife arrived at the hospital, checked in and were quickly brought back to the surgery area to get ready for his procedure.
The surgery was successful, and Louie recovered so well — including being able to go home the same day — that surgery on his other knee was scheduled for six weeks later. He is now doing physical therapy to strengthen function in both of his knees and looks forward to returning to the activities he used to be able to enjoy, including one special activity with his sons.
“I can’t wait to get back out on a boat with my boys and go deep sea fishing,” Louie says.
For people experiencing pain on a daily basis like he was, Louie encourages them to not spend too long in pain and to be advocates for themselves. He recommends that they talk with their primary care doctor about what they’re feeling.
“You don’t have to live in pain,” Louie says. “I wish I hadn’t, but I also wouldn’t change a thing because if those 10 years are what it took for me to meet Dr. Kusnezov, they were worth it.”
Meet orthopedic experts, enjoy interactive booths, receive free screenings and more at Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center’s free Bone and Joint Health Expo on Saturday, June 22. To learn more or to register, call 1-800-82-SHARP (1-800-827-4277).
Back on Two Feet: Chris' Story
Chris Blair had a normal, athletic childhood. If anything, it might even be considered a bit unusual given how many different sports he played with ease, including wrestling, football, track and field, and skateboarding — his favorite. No one would have ever known that Chris was born with one leg longer than the other. In fact, Chris didn’t even know until he was grown.
As an adult, Chris traded the wrestling mat for job sites as he enjoyed a successful career in the construction industry. He started as an apprentice and worked his way up, building commercial and other types of buildings across California. At the same time, Chris continued to enjoy an active life outside of work, taking up snowboarding and working out. He also became a father to a son and stepfather to two girls.
As the years went on, however, Chris began to realize he couldn’t do all the same things he once did. He began experiencing discomfort and pain in his hips, even when doing something as simple as wearing his tool belt around his waist.
Chris and his wife were living in Salt Lake City when his pain became unbearable.
“I was working on a construction project at the airport and thought, ‘If I can’t carry tools or even walk to be able to perform inspections, what am I going to do?’” Chris remembers. “It was a hard time in my life, and the cold weather was not kind on my joints, so we relocated out west.”
A move west provides a new beginning — and new hip
Chris and his wife moved to Arizona, but Chris continued to travel to California for work. He was referred to Dr. Nick Kusnezov, an orthopedic surgeon with Sharp Community Medical Group, and scheduled for surgery at Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center.
“My pain had gotten so bad that by the time I saw Dr. Kusnezov, it was bone on bone,” Chris says.
“Chris had two conditions, which are common and often go undiagnosed until they begin causing symptoms: a difference in limb length, called limb length inequality, and a hip joint that is shaped differently, known as femoroacetabular impingement,” Dr. Kusnezov says. “There are many patients with slight differences in the length of their legs who are unaware of this, but it can lead to tilt in the pelvis that causes the hips to either overload or pinch.”
After being evaluated, Dr. Kusnezov and Chris decided that he would have an anterior total hip replacement to alleviate his pain, improve his motion and mobility, and return him to his normal activities.
“As orthopedic surgeons, we always try to exhaust conservative treatment options before surgery, but Chris had severe pain and he had worn all the cartilage off in his hip joint, so I knew that a hip replacement was the only treatment that would quickly and reliably return him to an active lifestyle,” Dr. Kusnezov says. “We decided on an anterior total hip replacement, which is a muscle-sparing approach that would allow him to recover as quickly as possible.”
The surgery was easy, according to Chris. After surgery, he was brought to his room on Sharp Chula Vista’s dedicated unit for post-op neurovascular, orthopedic and spine care.
“My experience at Sharp Chula Vista was great,” Chris says. “All of my nurses were great.”
Now, 10 months past his surgery, Chris is continuing to regain strength through physical therapy and looking forward to spending more time with his son and family, getting back to his construction career, and returning to some of his favorite activities — all while being careful to protect his new hip.
Cruising toward a pain-free life
Louie Muñoz lived with chronic pain in both of his knees for a decade before finally discovering the treatment that worked for him.
Louie, who lives in south San Diego and is a father to two sons, works in a deli and spends many hours on his feet helping customers. In fact, most days, he spends 10 hours standing.
While Louie has always enjoyed his job, especially the opportunity to work with one of his sons, it was taking a toll. Over time, he began experiencing pain in his knees.
Louie sought care from a doctor in his community, who recommended nonsurgical treatment. When the treatment failed to relieve his pain, Louie decided to seek a second opinion from Dr. Nick Kusnezov, an orthopedic surgeon affiliated with Sharp HealthCare.
