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Patient Testimonials

BuddyBuddy
Arlington
Knee Osteotomy

PamPam
Great Falls
TRUMATCH Knee
Replacement

BarbaraBarbara
Annandale
Knee Replacement

DennisDennis
Amissville
Total Hip Replacement

BlancaBlanca
Leesburg
Bilateral Hip Replacement

SarahSarah
Burke
Fractured Elbow

Ca'DellCa'Dell
Reston
Achilles Repair

CarolynCarolyn
Alexandria
Bilateral Hip and
Knee Replacements

HishamHisham
Reston
ACL Repair

BrianBrian
Herndon
Torn Biceps Tendon

JohnJohn
Springfield
Spine Surgery

HikoHiko
Fairfax
Detached Thumb Ligament

MatthewMatthew
Fairfax
Shoulder Repair

CourtneyCourtneyMcLean
Fractured Leg

LisaLisa
Centreville
Minimally Invasive
Spine Surgery

MauriceMaurice
Clifton
Osteoarthritis

MaureenMaureen
Oak Hill
Non-Surgical
Pain Management

BrianBrian
Reston
Minimally Invasive
Total Hip Replacement

JamesJames
Arlington
Knee Replacement

CherylCheryl
Oak Hill
Reconstructive
Hand Surgery

ChrisChris
Arlington
Carpal Tunnel Surgery

VilmaVilma
Vienna
Fractured Wrist

KelseyKelsey
Centreville
Spondylolysis

JeffJeff
Alexandria
Shoulder Repair

JennaJenna
Centreville
ACL Repair

VickiVicki
Manassas
Torn Rotator Cuff

DanaDana
Manassas
Dupuytren’s
Contracture

LeroyLeroy
Falls Church
Osteoarthritis

JeanetteJeannette
Fairfax
Spinal Fusion

TomTom
Sterling
Computer-Assisted
Robotic Spine Surgery

JeffBrian
Arlington
Knee Arthroscopy

DonnaDonna
West Springfield
Pilates and
Core Stabilization

KeithKeith
Stafford
Torn Rotator Cuff

RachelRachel
Vienna
Broken Wrist

PatsonPatson
Annandale
Herniated Disc

JerriJerri
Alexandria
Muscle-Sparing Total
Knee Replacement

MatthewMatthew
Lucketts, VA
Ankle Replacement

GarrettGarrett
Vienna
Shoulder Rehabilitation

KarenKaren
Alexandria
Shoulder Repair

JamesJames
Annandale
Distal Biceps
Tendon Repair

LaurieLaurie
Potomac Falls
Minimally Invasive
Hip Arthroscopy

KevinKevin
Alexandria
Lacerated Extensor
Tendon Repair

MaryMary
Herndon
ACL Reconstruction &
Meniscus Transplant

SamSam
Edgewater, MD
Shoulder Repair Surgery

PhilPhil
Springfield
Clavicle Fracture

KelleyKelley
Sterling
Dislocated Kneecaps

BrianBrian
Vienna
Skier's Thumb

StephanieStephanie
Vienna
Knee & Hip Replacement

CatherineCatherine
McLean
Spine Deformity

JimJim
Clifton
Twisted Pelvis

SpiroSpiro
Washington, DC
Multi-ligament
Reconstruction

WennersWenners
Manassas
Achilles Tendon
Reconstruction

DebbieDebbie
Haymarket
Anterior Hip
Replacement

SusanSusan
Great Falls
ACL Tear

background

Patient Testimonials - Blanca

Leesburg – Bilateral Hip Replacement

BlancaDiagnosed with leukemia in 2003 at the age of seventeen, Blanca knew she had a long road ahead of her.  Following months of chemotherapy and medication, Blanca’s cancer was contained, but she soon faced a new challenge.  The prednisone commonly used in conjunction with chemotherapy treatment in leukemia patients had restricted blood supply to her major joints.  As a result, Blanca began suffering severe pain in her hips. 

Acting on the referral of her caretakers at Children’s Hospital in Washington, DC, Blanca came to Commonwealth Orthopaedics for help.  Her physician immediately ordered X-rays and diagnosed her problem as Avascular Necrosis—a serious bone disorder in which the affected bones or joints actually die.  Hoping that major surgery could be avoided on his young patient, Blanca’s Commonwealth physician encouraged her to wait five months to see if her condition would improve.  Disappointingly, though, her pain worsened.

Blanca recalls, “I was in a wheelchair and couldn’t do anything with my legs.  I couldn’t even cross my legs without lifting one on top of the other.  It was at that point that we decided to do surgery.”

Blanca’s left hip was replaced in December of 2004, and her right hip was replaced in April of 2005.  Following only a few weeks of in-home rehabilitation after each procedure, Blanca made a remarkable recovery.

She explains, “I’m doing fine now.  I can do anything.  Before, when the pain was so severe, I couldn’t dance, but now I can dance again.  I love to dance!” 

Today, Blanca is fully enjoying her new set of hips and preparing to graduate from school this year.  Meanwhile, she continues to trust her Commonwealth physician for the treatment of a similar bone problem affecting her shoulders. 

As Blanca fights to permanently defeat both the leukemia and her related orthopaedic disorders, this brave young lady inspires everyone she meets with her courage and stamina in the face of some very big challenges.