Shandley McMurray Brown

I was 26 when my right hip started to give me trouble. I'd head out for a 30-minute run and struggle to get out of bed the next morning. My hip would seize, and shooting pains ran from my lower back, down my groin, and into my leg. I gave up running one month later.

As time went on, my hip began to sublux frequently due to Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS), a connective tissue disease I've suffered with since birth. The pain increased dramatically, and at times, my right hip would lock or "catch," causing me to become virtually stuck in certain movements. A mother of two young children, I became frustrated with the limitations caused by this condition, not to mention the unrelenting pain. I couldn't chase them through the park, kick a soccer ball, or jump on a trampoline. Worse than that, though, was my inability to walk long distances without a crutch or cane. At only 40, I felt as if I was twice my age.

That's when I began my search for help. Having EDS made my predicament more complicated. I saw multiple surgeons who said they wouldn't touch me despite the arthritis that riddled my joints. One of them brought me to tears with his lack of understanding of EDS and his terse bedside manner. He told me a hip replacement was inevitable, but that I should come back in 10 years to have it done. Then, I met Dr. Alexander McLawhorn. Not only did he empathize with my situation, but he was well-versed in EDS and offered multiple options before we decided that a total hip replacement (THR) was the best option.

In 2019, at the age of 43, I had a THR. It may sound corny, but through this surgery, Dr. McLawhorn gave me my life back. From the moment I awoke from surgery, the unrelenting, nauseating pain I'd lived with for years was gone. Within three months, I was able to do pretty much everything I wanted, and I felt like a new person. Over five years on, I still couldn't be happier with the result. I have hiked in multiple countries, climbed a volcano, dived into a lagoon, cliff jumped, waterskied, snorkeled, skated, skied, and played tennis, all with my new hip.

As I tell anyone who's contemplating doing a THR, this was the easiest surgery I've ever had (I've had 10 operations), and it is the surgery I am most thankful for. Thank you to Dr. McLawhorn and his impressive, kind, and professional team for making a massive difference in my quality of life.