Getting Around
Larry Cox knows about getting around.
As President and CEO of the Memphis/Shelby County Airport Authority,
Cox has spent 35 years making sure that Memphis’ greatest commodity,
its airport, runs smoothly and efficiently.
His job requires that he gets around the airport’s expansive
grounds and multiple buildings. When he was younger, this avid
jogger and former high school football and basketball athlete
was able to handle the walking with ease.
But then, in June of 2006, Cox was jogging with his brother
near Greer’s Ferry Lake. A sudden, sharp pain in his right hip
made jogging impossible and even walking painful.
That meant using a golf cart to get around the airport. It also
curtailed one of Cox’s other passions, which is – unsurprisingly
– flying Cessna airplanes.
Cox took a trip to his primary care physician, who gave a diagnosis
of osteoarthritis. The PCP immediately sent Cox to Campbell Clinic
and to Dr. James L. Guyton. X-Rays showed that Cox had virtually
no cartilage left in his right hip, that the joint was scraping
bone on bone.
In January of 2007, Cox underwent surgery
to receive a total hip arthroplasty (replacement), using a Smith & Nephew
metal on metal total hip replacement. After three weeks of physical
therapy, Cox was able to walk without a cane or crutch.
Now, Cox is back to flying Cesnas, and
he swims instead of jogs. Most importantly, Cox got back to moving
through his life and through his airport, without pain.