Paul Tubinis

Hip Replacement Improves Quality of Life

Paul Tubinis, who turned 50 this year, is a lifelong athlete. He played baseball and basketball in high school and college. As an adult, he was a runner, played tennis and golf, and participated in other active sports.

Then years of wear on his joints caught up with him. “I developed an arthritic hip, and moving it became painful,” he said. “[For example,] when I went to Tiger football games, I had trouble climbing the steps in the stadium. So, it wasn’t just that I couldn’t be the athlete I once was. My quality of life in general was less.”

Like many of today’s adults who actively seek to learn more about their health, Paul began to read about hip replacement surgery and talk with people who had undergone surgery. Finally, he contacted Dr. John Crockarell at the Campbell Clinic. Paul and Dr. Crockarell decided to move forward with surgery to replace Paul’s hip.

After his surgery on July 1, 2004, Paul Tubinis spent two nights in the hospital. “But they had me up and walking around with a walker on the day of the operation,” he said. “I’m not saying that it wasn’t painful, but I was just amazed that I was home on the third day after what certainly qualifies as major surgery.”

Paul said he was making phone calls and using his computer the day he returned home from the hospital. “A physical therapist came to my home for five sessions, and I was able to get out of the bed by myself on the tenth day,” he said. “At the end of four weeks, when I visited Dr. Crockarell’s office, I was able to walk out without using my walker.”

Six months after his surgery, Paul Tubinis says his life has improved. “I’m playing golf again,” he said. “I’m watching my diet, and I’m able to do more repetitions in my exercise routine than I could prior to surgery. I feel great. It’s just a miracle.”