Conditions + Treatments
Hip Dysplasia
Periacetabular Osteotomy (PAO)
Growing up, I was a competitive cheerleader. I began having horrible knee and ankle pain when I was about 13 years old, which was really unusual for someone that young. Eventually, I saw a local primary care doctor, and they said it was just all growing pains and I would be fine.
The pain never subsided and I knew it wasn’t growing pains hurting me that bad, so I eventually decided to see Dr. Ricardo Colberg at Andrews Sports Medicine. Dr. Colberg then referred me to The Hip Center at Andrews Sports Medicine where I was examined by hip preservation specialist, Dr. Benton Emblom, and later Dr. Michael Ryan.
The surgeons at Andrews Sports Medicine correctly diagnosed me with hip dysplasia in both of my hips and started with conservative treatments. They were knowledgeable and active in pursuing the best options for my condition. We tried physical therapy, injections and everything else available, but nothing really helped, so Dr. Ryan suggested surgery as my best opportunity for long-term relief and quality of life.
Dr. Ryan performed PAO surgery on my right hip in February 2019. That was my first big surgery ever, so the recovery process was long and hard, but Dr. Ryan, his athletic trainer, Kirby, and my physical therapists were there for me every step of the way.
I had my left hip done in March 2020, right when COVID-19 started changing life as we knew it. I was fortunately able to have my surgery done before elective surgeries were temporarily halted, but I wasn’t allowed to have any visitors in the hospital following the procedure, which was difficult. However, I still felt safe and completely taken care of by Andrews's surgeons and St. Vincent's Birmingham staff.
This time, my recovery has been a complete 180; I feel so much better and it has only been three months into healing.
Throughout the whole process, Dr. Ryan and Kirby have provided me with all the information I could need regarding the surgeries. They’ve been so helpful, in fact, that I’ve never had to ask them any questions of my own; but I know that if I ever had one, they would be more than happy to help.
I’m not fully healed yet, but I am doing so much better and am back to many of my normal activities. I’m so thankful to Dr. Ryan, Dr. Emblom, Dr. Colberg, Kirby, and everyone else at Andrews Sports Medicine for helping me achieve my victory over injury, and I feel confident in what the future holds for my recovery.
