Patricia Young is more familiar with the field of medicine than most people. A registered nurse for more than 35 years, she specializes in caring for patients in the recovery room following surgery.

 

Patricia has had firsthand knowledge of the remarkable strides made in surgical techniques over the years. But it wasn’t until she, herself, was the patient that it hit home how miraculous new surgical techniques can be—and how much they enhance a patient’s quality of life.

“My son was trying out for the high school tennis team and I thought I would practice with him,” Patricia said. But, she knew after a single practice session that she had injured her elbow. Her limited mobility was accompanied by extreme pain in her joint. “I couldn’t comb my hair or hold a coffee cup in that hand. I couldn’t roll over in bed unless I held my whole arm. It was pretty limiting.”

 

Her doctor tried injecting the affected site with cortisone, which provided temporary relief. But the discomfort and limited mobility always returned. After a year of persistent pain, Patricia knew she needed a more effective solution to deal with her condition. A coworker told her about a new procedure that she had undergone called microtenotomy.

 

During the procedure, surgeons make a small incision over the site where the nerves are registering the pain. Then, using a device called a topaz wand they issue an electrical current to the nerve. The “zap” redirects the nerve to grow in a different direction, providing immediate relief and a permanent solution to the pain.

 

“Doctors at Alvarado Hospital were the only ones in the area offering the procedure,” Patricia noted. She scheduled an appointment and learned she would be a good candidate for microtenotomy. Her doctor performed the outpatient procedure at Alvarado’s Ambulatory Surgery Center.

 

“The minute I woke up, the pain was gone,” Patricia marvels. “I was amazed—it was like night and day. Having the surgery was the best thing I could have done. And the recovery was so easy.” According to Patricia, she was back on the job in five days.

Thanks to the doctors at Alvarado Hospital and a remarkable new procedure, Patricia is once again at the top of her game.

For more information about orthopedic services available at Alvarado Hospital, call 1-800-ALVARADO.