At the age of 19, Marvin Colvin broke his leg in two places as the result of a motorcycle accident. After many years of dealing with painful complications, he decided it finally was time to do something about it. That’s when he turned to the Verde Valley Medical Center Joint Replacement Program.

“I was young with limited resources,so was pretty much on my own for rehabilitation after the leg surgery from my accident,” said Dr. Colvin, a family practice physician on the Medical Staff at VVMC. “I developed a dysfunctional walk that, over 30 years, wore out the cartilage on one side of my knee, and it started causing pain. I lived with it, using over-the-counter anti-inflammatory agents, but the pain became worse. I was limited more and more in what I could do, and it got to the point that just walking from one end of the hospital to the other resulted in a significant, painful limp. It also impacted my primary recreational activities of dancing and hiking.”

Easing the Pain
Like most joint replacement patients, the first line of treatment for Dr. Colvin involved nonsurgical options including injections. When it became clear he wasn’t experiencing relief from his pain, Dr. Colvin opted to have joint replacement surgery.

“The Verde Valley Joint Replacement Center is truly exceptional,” said Dr. Colvin. “It is an integrated program with a team approach that includes everything from preoperative education to immediate postoperative engagement in a dedicated joint replacement physical therapy regime that is coordinated with the orthopedic surgeon. The physical therapists are part of the team, and everyone involved has similar goals. There is an entire floor of the hospital with staff trained and dedicated solely to the care of orthopedic patients.”

The program at VVMC features:

• in-depth patient education, including continuing education after the procedure
• admission to the hospital the day before surgery to allow patients the chance to relax and become comfortable in the environment
• a dedicated recovery area fostering a supportive environment that allows patients to dine, rest and rehabilitate with others who have undergone joint replacement surgery

Dancing Again
The results of Dr. Colvin’s procedure were noticeable within a few days. He was back on his feet, participating in the intensive physical therapy and rehabilitation needed after joint replacement. Because VVMC’s physicians are committed to both program and personal goals, Dr. Colvin’s rehabilitation program ended up being just what the doctor ordered—a pain-free knee to fit his active lifestyle.

“I am no longer hampered by my knee,” said Dr. Colvin. “Thanks to the intense, team approach to my rehabilitation, I regained motion in my joint very quickly. 

"There is no pain or discomfort slowing me down anymore. I can dance, hike and do all the other activities I enjoy. There is absolutely no reason to leave Cottonwood for standard joint replacement surgery. VVMC offers a coordinated team approach including both preoperative services and rehabilitation. I cannot imagine receiving better care anywhere else.”