Patient Testimonials

Barbara – Annandale
Knee Replacement

Dennis – Amissville
Total Hip Replacement

Blanca – Leesburg
Bilateral Hip Replacement

Sarah – Burke
Fractured Elbow

Ca'Dell – Reston
Achilles Repair

Carolyn – Alexandria
Bilateral Hip and Knee Replacements

Hisham – Reston
ACL Repair

Brian – Herndon
Torn Biceps Tendon

John – Springfield
Spine Surgery

Hiko – Fairfax
Detached Thumb Ligament

Matthew – Fairfax
Shoulder Repair

Courtney –McLean
Fractured Leg

Lisa – Centreville
Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery

Maurice – Clifton
Osteoarthritis

Maureen – Oak Hill
Non-Surgical Pain Management

Brian – Reston
Minimally Invasive Total Hip Replacement

James – Arlington
Knee Replacement

Cheryl – Oak Hill
Reconstructive Hand Surgery

Chris – Arlington
Carpal Tunnel Surgery

Vilma – Vienna
Fractured Wrist

Kelsey – Centreville
Spondylolysis

Jeff – Alexandria
Shoulder Repair

Jenna – Centreville
ACL Repair

Brian – Arlington
Knee Arthroscopy

Donna – West Springfield
Pilates and Core Stabilization

Keith – Stafford
Torn Rotator Cuff

Rachel – Vienna
Broken Wrist

Patson – Annandale
Herniated Disc

Jerri – Alexandria
Muscle-Sparing Total Knee Replacement

Matthew – Lucketts, VA
Ankle Replacement

Garrett – Vienna
Shoulder Rehabilitation

Karen – Alexandria
Shoulder Repair

James – Annandale
Distal Biceps Tendon Repair

Laurie – Potomac Falls
Minimally Invasive Hip Arthroscopy

Kevin – Alexandria
Lacerated Extensor Tendon Repair

Mary – Herndon
ACL Reconstruction and Meniscus Transplant

Sam – Edgewater, MD
Shoulder Repair Surgery

Phil – Springfield
Clavicle Fracture

Kelley – Sterling
Dislocated Kneecaps

Brian – Vienna
Skier’s Thumb

Stephanie – Vienna
Knee & Hip Replacement

Patient Testimonials - Cheryl

Oak Hill – Reconstructive Hand Surgery

When Cheryl first felt pain in the base of her right thumb, she dismissed it as just another minor ache. But as she pursued her beloved hobbies of needlepoint, cross-stitch and embroidery, the pain grew worse and more frequent. “Eventually I had pain all the time,” says the 60-year-old retired medical assistant, who lives in Oak Hill. “It got so bad I couldn’t do everyday things like turn a key or open a jar without it really hurting. I knew I had to do something about it.”

Cheryl consulted J. Mark Evans, MD, an orthopaedic surgeon specializing in trauma and reconstructive hand surgery at Commonwealth Orthopaedics. Dr. Evans diagnosed arthritis of the thumb, a debilitating condition that causes hand pain, stiffness and weakness, limiting range of motion and making it increasingly difficult to perform simple tasks.

“It was quick and painless and the incisions were so small if I didn’t tell you they were there, you wouldn’t see them,” she says.

After discussing her treatment options, Cheryl initially chose cortisone injections. But when the pain returned she decided surgery was the answer, and opted for a basal joint arthroplasty. During the minimally-invasive procedure, Dr. Evans removed part of Cheryl’s thumb joint and replaced it with a tendon graft from her arm. The outpatient surgery took just a couple of hours, and she was back home that afternoon. “It was quick and painless and the incisions were so small if I didn’t tell you they were there, you wouldn’t see them,” she says.

Cheryl wore a cast from her hand to her elbow for six weeks following surgery, but was able to return to work after two weeks. When the cast came off, Dr. Evans gave her some hand-strengthening exercises to do and she did not need physical therapy because her range of motion was normal. The pain has never returned.

The overall experience was so positive, Cheryl wishes she’d done something sooner. And she urges others in similar circumstances to take action: “Don’t live with the pain. It’s not worth it,” she says.