Sonja Browne

I learned about Dr. Edwin Su and Hospital of Special Surgery (HSS) from a co-worker who flew in from Chicago to have his second hip procedure done by Dr. Su at HSS. In 2005 and at the young age of 42, I was diagnosed with necrosis of the left femoral hip bone. The socket that the femoral bone sat in had collapsed. The condition caused me excruciating pain. Kneeling on rice grains gives an imaginable picture of the type of pain I was experiencing. A hip replacement was strongly recommended. Through uncontrollable tears I told the doctor this was not an option. I left his office and embarked on a life of denial. I was so confident that there was a "miracle pill" or a "quick fix" in the medical world to repair me. My eight year journey of denial was filled with a host of costly acupuncture visits, consultations with orthopaedic specialists across the five boroughs, subscription purchases to joint juice such as "SUPPLE", homeopathic joint pain supplements such as "Instaflex", and an array of other homeopathic remedies such as glucosamine, chondroitin, boswellia, and cayenne pepper, just to name a few.

To my dismay, my condition remained the same. I was totally bewildered, How could this happen to a healthy 42 year old like me!? I didn't smoke, drink or use drugs. I enjoyed roller skating, bike riding, and walking on a regular basis. And my most passionate addiction of all - I LOVE SHOES! - pumps, boots and sandals! - peep toes, wedges, sling backs! - kept me euphorically hypnotized! All of these pleasantries were gradually snatched away as my condition became more and more prevalent in my life. Eventually, I stopped going out for lunch during working hours, stopped shoe shopping, and stopped attending social events. I didn't want people to see me walking like Frankenstein. I now walked strictly for mandatory purposes - go to the bathroom; go to work; and go to bed. I began keeping a hand towel handy at all times because walking on the pain caused me to perspire profusely. To add insult to injury, because of the lack of exercise, I gained fifteen pounds. Life as I knew it was withering away and it sank me into despair mentally, emotionally and physically.

Then in late 2012, a co-worker stopped by my desk, (I guess he was tired of seeing me walking around in such agony and clumsiness), and told me about Dr. Edwin Su and HSS. Shortly after that, I saw a commercial on the cable channel, NY 1, applauding HSS for being the #1 orthopedic hospital in the nation. The time for making my life changing decision had arrived. On January 3, 2013, my hip was replaced by Dr. Edwin Su! I opened my eyes and that pain, which had become my second skin, was GONE! My three day stay at HSS was absolutely wonderful! From the time I was admitted until I was discharged, the HSS staff was outstandingly supportive and caring. I was taken care of with kitten gloves. I felt like I was on a grand vacation.

Three months later, April 2013, I was back to work and walking normally. NO more walking like Frankenstein! I began walking two miles 3-5 times a week to regain the strength in my legs. Six months later, June 2013, I was wearing my four inch heel sandals to my daughter's high school graduation! (The sandals were spectacular!) One year after my surgery, January 2014, I began an exercise regimen which consisted of one hour aerobic exercising with weight lifting 4-5 times a week. To date I've maintained this regimen. I've lost all of the weight I gained during my hip ailment, gained some muscle definition and I feel stronger and I happier than I've been in years! I am forever indebted to Dr. Edwin Su and the HSS staff. It is so scary to imagine where my life would be without having this magnificently successful surgery! Without them I would have never gotten my life back!