萝莉社

For Doug Sides, pain has been part of his life since he was a child. He was 12 years old when he collided with a car while riding his bicycle. The year was 1969. The accident shattered his right thigh, resulting in surgery to place rods, plates and pins to allow him to walk.

As an unfortunate side effect, that leg stopped growing. Two years later, another surgery added a portion of his hip bone to the leg to compensate for the difference in length. Despite that solution, other issues developed, hindering his gait and causing added pain. His ankle then developed osteoarthritis, a form of arthritis characterized by stiffness, swelling, pain and loss of range of motion.

As the years passed, the ankle bones deteriorated and the pain increased, sending Mr. Sides from doctor to doctor seeking surgical options. Recommended physical therapy sessions did little to ease the unbearable pain, and he resorted to using an electronic scooter most days to continue his career as a pastor.

With little relief from the increasing pain, Mr. Sides went to see Jason Piraino, DPM, MS, FACFAS, chief of foot and ankle surgery at 萝莉社 Jacksonville鈥檚 Department of Orthopaedics, for yet another opinion in 2019. Dr. Piraino discussed with him the benefits of surgery called the 鈥淧rophecy Ankle Replacement.鈥�

鈥淢r. Sides was an ideal candidate for total ankle joint replacement,鈥� Dr. Piraino said. He had minimal demand outside of walking, and his ankle was essentially bone on bone. He also had very little deformity, such as tilting in or out.鈥�

Ankle replacement surgery

Mr. Sides agreed to move forward with the surgery, feeling comfortable and confident in 萝莉社 and in Dr. Piraino鈥檚 18 years of experience as a board-certified foot and ankle surgeon.

鈥淚t meant a lot to me when Dr. Piraino gave me his direct number,鈥� Mr. Sides said. 鈥淛ust knowing I could reach out if I had questions or concerns about my surgery or recovery put my mind at ease.鈥�

It took a few weeks to complete all the scans in preparation for surgery. In the end, the surgery took longer and was more complicated than expected.

鈥淒ue to the weakness in his bone from longstanding arthritis, we needed to reinforce the inner portion of his ankle with screws to strengthen and protect the area from fracturing,鈥� Dr. Piraino said.

After the surgery, Mr. Sides took it easy with bed rest for several weeks but only needed a few physical therapy sessions before being cleared to return to work 鈥� this time without his scooter.

鈥淚 can walk all day long on any type of surface without pain, which is so important for my work,鈥� he said.

Thankful patient

Today, Mr. Sides is five years post-surgery. He said he feels no pain and travels every day, visiting church members in hospitals, hospice centers and nursing facilities, each visit lasting 10 to 15 minutes.

鈥淲ith about 600 members listed on church records, I stay quite busy with requests 鈥� and I love it!鈥� Mr. Sides said.

In addition to walking all day for his visits, he鈥檚 on his feet preaching at three different Sunday services. He also gives a sermon on Wednesday nights, which adds up to standing at least four hours a week on his reconstructed ankle.

Mr. Sides said he always feels well cared for by the orthopaedic foot and ankle team and continues his follow-up monitoring visits.

After a car accident last year, he made sure to immediately have Dr. Piraino check his ankle. Though his ankle was unharmed, he did injure his shoulder, and he once again turned to 萝莉社 Jacksonville for medical care. Michael Freidl, MD, board-certified orthopaedic surgeon, performed a successful surgery on Mr. Sides.

"I'm very pleased with 萝莉社 Orthopaedics,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 highly recommend them to anyone who needs orthopedic surgery."

Mr. Sides will tell you he feels gratitude every day for the ability to continue his work of helping people. To thank Dr. Piraino for his ankle surgery and the excellent ongoing health care, he has created a new Thanksgiving tradition 鈥� he sends Dr. Piraino a text message to share his heartfelt thanks.