Mary, Gibraltar
‘‘Dr. Thomas Boerger was so good at explaining everything to me. I knew I was in good hands. I felt very confident with Dr. Boerger. The care was second-to-none’explains Mary, a client who had a right Total Hip Replacement in 2020.
Background
Mary is no stranger to the intense pain that can be caused by deteriorating joints. Sadly, arthritis runs in her family. Her knees were so painful that she had to have two full knee replacements: one 11 years ago, and the other 9 years ago. The procedures were through the GHA, ‘so there was a real wait for the surgery’, explains Mary. ‘So, when I needed a hip replacement, I knew could not wait, tolerating the pain. I was fortunate to be able to use my private medical insurance that I have through my work, which meant I could book a consultation with Dr. Thomas Boerger straight away.’
The Consultations
Mary knew that a hip replacement would change her life. ‘The knee surgeries had given me gigantic improvement in my quality of life . Before I couldn’t stand’, continues Mary.
‘The worse part about a failing joint is the pain. Because of my hip pain, I could hardly walk and had to take daily medication for the pain, a sharp pain in my groin. It was depressing’, explains Mary.
So she was eager to move ahead with her hip replacement. She booked a consultation with Dr. Thomas Boerger at Specialist Medical Clinic in Gibraltar.
‘This was the best thing that happened to me’ says Mary. ‘To have the medical insurance and being able to avoid the typical 1 year delay in getting an appointment though the GHA was wonderful. I went straight to Dr. Boerger’.
Dr. Boerger arranged new x-rays for me during the consultation and really took the time to explain everything to me, and my husband who had accompanied me. Dr. Boerger discussed my x-ray, and explained the whole procedure, which was wonderful’.
The Procedures
Mary had her Hip Replacement at the HC International Marbella private hospital. ‘I was prepared for the surgery. I knew that no other treatment could improve the pain in my hip; I needed a replacement. To be honest, the pain was so bad with my hip, I just really wanted to have the surgery. I was positive about the outcome. I knew that I was in good hands. I was very confident in Dr Thomas Boerger’, confirms Mary.
HC International Marbella Hospital offers private accommodation for patients and Mary’s husband was able to share her private room during her 5-day hospital stay.
‘I would really recommend others to have a family member with them for this procedure’, says Mary. ‘It was such a help to have my husband with me. Although there was always nursing staff to assist me, it was good to have my husband there to help me dress each day and be by my side’.
The staff at HC Marbella was amazing.
The team are very, very reassuring and were always on hand and checking in on me. They were brilliant. I could just buzz if I were in pain and the nurse would come straight away and give me pain killers. They all had an incredibly positive and helpful attitude.
Dr. Boerger also has a dedicated nurse that looks after his patients, called Tanya, who kept in touch with me and monitored by immediate recovery. The hospital provided all my meals and I wanted for nothing. The care was second-to-none’.
Post-Procedure Recovery
‘I had the procedure on Day 2 in hospital. Day 3 I had some limited movement and was walking with crutches, helped by the hospital’s physiotherapist. The pain of the hip joint has gone, but I was in pain from the surgery, so was on strong painkillers.
By day 6 I was at home and able to move around the house. I wasn’t on crutches for long. I felt confident quite quickly. Dr. Thomas Boerger strongly recommends walking as regularly as possible to help the hip heal. Unfortunately for me, not that long into my recovery, the Covid pandemic started so I was at home under lockdown, and I don’t think I got as much regular short walks as I should have. For hours and hours, I was sitting at my desk at home working, and I maybe wish I had walked more.
‘However, now the chronic, intense pain has gone, and I can continue to improve my mobility. Dr. Thomas Boerger was very responsive and helpful throughout’.