One of the most important days in my life began when I had an appointment with Dr. Michael Morwood for a routine X-ray and consult.
I had been experiencing pain with my right leg knee and hip for over eighteen years. I had consulted other doctors and even other orthopedic surgeons in Massachusetts, before we retired to Portsmouth. All of the doctors did X-rays and asked me questions, but the appointments always ended the same way….”we aren’t sure what is wrong” or “we can’t see anything that would cause that pain.” I finally stopped trying to find out what was wrong with my leg and just lived with the pain.
By the time we retired and moved to NH my life had changed completely. I couldn’t stand in place for any length of time, I couldn’t walk any distance because of the pain. I had difficulties driving any distance because my leg would ache so badly. And I couldn’t walk on the beach! We had moved to Portsmouth and lived seven minutes from the beach and I couldn’t do what I always dreamed of doing… walk on the beach every day!
Dr. Morwood came into the exam room and said hello and asked me how long I had been living with the leg pain. I told him, “eighteen years”. He said he had seen the test results, he had read all of the notes about my leg pain and he was ready to give me a diagnosis and a treatment plan that would start that day!
I needed total knee replacements in both knees and the right knee needed it soon. He recommended I have a cortisone shot in both knees that day to give me some relief. When I was ready, we would start with a knee replacement on my right leg.
That was in the spring of 2020…a difficult year for all of us. I had my right knee replaced on October 8th and stayed one night in the hospital. My surgery was complete around 6:00pm. At 2:00am I was able to stand with a walker and walk on my right leg. I had incision pain of course, but I had no pain at all in my leg, hip or knee…none.
Because of this talented, kind and gifted doctor, who had years of experience in robotic surgery, my operation was a success! Thanks to Dr. Morwood, the home care I received along with the love and care from my husband and daughters, my recovery was amazing. It was a miracle living without that pain. Four weeks after surgery I was driving, went to the grocery store and I drove to the beach!!
One Sunday, just before Christmas we took a ride to Gloucester and Rockport. We stopped at two of my favorite beaches, from when I was young, where I always found sea glass. I was able to walk both of those beaches, from end to end, without pain. It was the best gift I have ever received.
Next week I am having a knee replacement on my left leg. I am so very grateful and thankful that I met Dr. Morwood and his staff and for the care they have given me. He changed my life completely….I keep saying it is a miracle to everyone who will listen!
I will be walking the beach this spring.
E.D
