Take me to St. Mark’s: Orthopedic care you can trust

Carlos Desouza, 55, has run 67 marathons. That’s more than 1,755 miles of racing, and the total doesn’t include countless training miles. While the intense running brought Carlos great joy and kept him healthy, the wear and tear on his joints caught up with him over time.

“It just kept getting worse,” Carlos said. “I was hurting, and I was limping. I kept thinking the problem was my knee, but the doctors looked at it and said my knees were ok … then they looked at my hip.”

Carlos suffered from severe degenerative joint disease of his hip. This slow deterioration had caused damage to his hip joint and ignited debilitating pain. His running slowed and then stopped, the physical labor he performed for work suffered, and his ability to balance fell flat. It eventually became difficult even to access his own home.

“We live on the third floor; there are 38 steps to get to our apartment,” Carlos said. “I had to stop halfway to get to my home and take a break.”

Salt Lake Orthopedic Clinic: Delivering answers and relief

Carlos sought professional advice at Salt Lake Orthopedic Clinic in search of relief. He first met Dr. Robert Bourne, a highly skilled sports medicine physician. He referred Carlos to Dr. O. Brant Nikolaus, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon specializing in advanced hip and knee reconstruction.

Right away, Carlos connected with Dr. Nikolaus. Not only did the doctor speak Portuguese and have a calming manner, but he also had answers and skills that could help Carlos get his quality of life back.

“I felt like I could trust Dr. Nikolaus from the beginning,” Carlos said. “He told me about a total hip replacement and said to go home to think about it … but I said, ‘I’m ready. Let’s do it.’ … I would do anything for Dr. Nikolaus – he fixed me. I love that guy!”

A new hip and a renewed hope:

Dr. Nikolaus and his medical team performed a total hip replacement surgery for Carlos at St. Mark’s Hospital. The procedure went smoothly, and Carlos, along with his wife Kate, said they felt cared for at every stage of the process.

“It was excellent!” Carlos said. “Everybody explained everything that was going to happen. They were patient and kind – not only before surgery but after surgery, too. I had a wonderful experience.”

Just hours after surgery, Carlos walked St. Mark’s halls with his new hip. The pain that had pierced him with each movement before surgery was gone; Carlos felt ready to go home.

“He could go home the same day as the surgery, but the thing we were first worried about was him getting up those stairs to our apartment,” Carlos’ wife, Kate, said. “He took his time and went up slowly, and he did great! It was like he was a new person!”

Brand new and ready for action

Determined to use his new hip best, Carlos strictly followed his doctor’s recommendations for a successful recovery. He went to physical therapy several times a week for three months and faithfully completed his physical therapy “homework” in between appointments. The hard work paid off. Today, Carlos walks four miles a day and looks forward to spending the summer hiking the beautiful Utah mountains.

“I feel great! I feel brand new! I have no pain!” Carlos said.

Over the years, both Carlos and Kate have received compassionate, quality care from St. Mark’s Hospital. They go to St. Mark’s for every doctor they can—from eye doctors to dermatologists to primary care.

“We say, ‘Take me to St. Mark’s because we trust them. They take care of us. It’s not about numbers or money. They take their time. They care. You can feel it,” Carlos said.

Salt Lake Orthopedic Clinic offers same-day consults with a joint specialist for all new injuries. Be seen today or the very next business day. Be seen today or the very next business day. We are your first stop for orthopedic injury advice, offering in-clinic X-rays and orthopedic physicians. To learn more, click hereor call (801) 261-7479.

Click here to learn more about orthopedic care at St. Mark’s Hospital.