By Heidi Smith, Contributor
The pain in Janine Salvo’s right hip was excruciating – and familiar.
“I recognized the same bone-on-bone pain I had with my other hip,” said the 60-year-old North Port woman, whose left hip was replaced in 2017 in Connecticut. “I knew it was time to get help.”
Salvo’s primary care physician recommended North Port orthopedic surgeon Jason Collins, M.D., with Gulf Coast Medical Group. Dr. Collins is board-certified and a member of the medical staff at Venice Regional Bayfront Health. He specializes in sports medicine and minimally invasive treatments for joint preservation and replacement.
“To diagnose a patient’s condition, I conduct a thorough physical exam, and the patient’s history provides many clues,” said Dr. Collins, who estimated he has performed more than 1,000 hip replacements in his career. “Janine was walking with a limp. She had significant pain, grinding in the joint, and limited range of motion compared to a normal hip. Diagnostic X-ray confirmed bone-on-bone arthritis of the hip.”
Dr. Collins recommended hip replacement surgery with an “anterior approach,” which means accessing the hip through the front of the upper leg. This allows the surgeon to navigate between muscles, rather than cutting through them.
Salvo’s 2017 surgery went through the back of the left hip area (posterior approach), requiring a longer recovery. She also suffered a dislocation of the new joint after that surgery.
“I was able to assure Janine that with the anterior approach, newer high-tech materials used in the replacement joint, and our use of real-time X-ray during the surgery, she was likely to have a quicker recovery with less pain,” Dr. Collins explained. “She also would be less likely to suffer a dislocation of the new joint after surgery.”
“I felt confident that Dr. Collins was going to do a great job,” related Salvo, who liked that Dr. Collins is “very experienced in sports medicine and is up on the latest” advances in techniques and technology.
Salvo’s surgery at Venice Regional required a one-night stay. She gave the hospital staff rave reviews: “They were just wonderful. Nice, caring and sweet.” The nurses were attentive in managing pain, which she felt mainly at the incision site. Salvo also was reassured by the hospital’s COVID-19 protocols.
“The day of surgery I was up walking around, and before I went home the next day, they had me doing physical and occupational therapy at the hospital,” Salvo said. “They made sure I could go up and down steps, get in a car – everyday things.”
Salvo went to outpatient physical therapy (PT) for about three weeks following the surgery. “The therapists were in touch with Dr. Collins’ office every step of the way. He knew exactly what was going on,” she said.
Dr. Collins commended Salvo’s diligence with PT. “I tell all my patients that over 90 percent of recovery is based on how hard you work with PT, and Janine did very well,” he said.
Salvo said she was back to normal activities three months after surgery, and two months later was hiking trails in Connecticut during summer vacation.
“I would definitely recommend Dr. Collins to anyone with hip pain,” Salvo said. “He’s a sweet man and did a great job for me. He and his staff communicated with me all along the way. I wish he had done my left hip!”
Dr. Collins sees patients at Gulf Coast Medical Group in North Port. To schedule an appointment, call 844-406-1007.
To take a free joint pain assessment, visit GulfCoastMedicalGroup.com/JointPainRelief.