Category: Foot and Ankle Overview

Meet our August Patient of the Month, Karen Poulsen– a passionate and young-at-heart Professional Organizer. 

Karen has always had a natural talent for organizing, and she started her business in 2016. It took off; she even has over 100 5-star reviews on Thumbtack! In 2018, Karen moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida to help her niece care for her newborn daughter. While living there, she decided to volunteer with a local animal shelter on their “take a dog to work day.” Karen had fostered over 30 dogs in her lifetime, and knows dogs very well. She was set to volunteer for a 90-pound Rottweiler, who she described as having a personality like “Garfield the cat” while she interacted with him and the handler for 45 minutes. Unfortunately, as they were finishing up their initial meeting, the dog suddenly and viciously attacked her, biting her neck and face and narrowly missing her vein. She was sent backwards and was unconscious for most of the attack, but was told by doctors that it was “a miracle that she lived.”

Karen slowly recovered from the attack, but started having mysterious pains in her left leg that grew worse over time. She would have episodes of getting “stuck” after sitting down, unable to stand back up due to the pain. She moved back to Chicago, and finally was referred to Genesis Orthopedics by her doctor. At her first appointment, she was standing in the waiting room, not wanting to sit down in case she couldn’t stand up again. Dr. Shadid saw right away where Karen’s pain was coming from– bone on bone osteoarthritis in her left hip; she would need hip replacement surgery as soon as possible. Upon getting the diagnosis and treatment plan, Karen “cried tears of joy”; she had never gotten any answers for her pain up until then.

Karen got her hip surgery with Dr. Strotman on June 16, and has been in physical therapy since then. Since her surgery, Karen’s physical and mental health have improved greatly; her friends and family have told her they “can’t believe she is recovering like this [so well].” Karen was even able to enjoy an Alaskan cruise this summer, and her business has continued to thrive, with her taking on new clients. Karen is looking forward to starting aquatic exercises to help her continue to strengthen her left leg, and her hope is to be back to 100% by her birthday in December, six months after her surgery. With her zest for life– she finds physical therapy “fun,” always making the PT’s laugh, and says she “thinks she’s 35”– Karen is sure to accomplish her goal. 

We’re excited to announce that our October Patient of the Month is George Kapustin.

Five years ago, George couldn’t work anymore because of intense pain, which was diagnosed as sciatica-related. George, who works in construction and drives a semi-truck, had physical therapy and took medication with poor results. “I thought that pain was normal, when in fact I was just hurting myself more,” he says. At last, in a physical therapy session, one of the therapists told him that his severe limitations of movement indicated severe hip degeneration. 

George came to Genesis, where Dr. Shadid performed total replacement of his right hip.

“I woke up in the recovery room at about two o’clock and minutes later they took me down to  physical therapy. They taught me how to stand and how to sit properly. That was 45 minutes. They gave me my discharge papers and I left with a walker. Incredible.” 

George’s fantastic attitude and diminished pain have improved his life. “I can walk miles at a time without a problem. Before, I walked with a limp and I couldn’t walk far. Now I’m not limited to anything.”

Of Dr. Shadid and his team, he says “I met him before surgery and after surgery, and I couldn’t believe that it turned out this good. I’m a real skeptic and I thought, ‘It’s going to be just like before,’ and I can’t tell you how much better I feel. Now I have mobility back, and that’s the big game changer. The staff has always been incredibly helpful for me. They checked up on me, and the procedure gave me results like I never had before.  I’m really pleased with the whole thing. The surgery, the staff, everything about it. I’m thrilled.”

George is an inspiration of grit and determination As he says, “Just existing is just that, it’s not quality of life. Living is more [than that].” That’s why he is our October Patient of the Month.

Our August Patient of the Month is Sabrina Volpe, a vibrant hair stylist with over 32 years of experience. All that experience took its toll on her body, and while on Christmas vacation she experienced a frozen shoulder. Her arms were limp and numb, a result of holding them up repeatedly for 10 to 12 hours daily at work. “I felt like I couldn’t even move my arms.” At Genesis she received the individualized care that she needed. “Elliott sits and listens to you. You are not just a number, he has a game plan and really listens.” After an MRI, she received three rounds of injections with maintenance shots.  “I literally was back to doing hair after my first rounds!” says Sabrina, who also adds that her husband, who used to be a semi-pro soccer player, wouldn’t go to any other orthopedic practice. She is also starting therapeutic massage to continue to improve her mobility and allow her to work without fear of another frozen shoulder. Because of her heavy workload, Elliott tailored a rehabilitation plan that suits her lifestyle. “I understand you work. But you know what, I have bands here,” he said, and developed a therapeutic exercise routine just for her. Sabrina says that he reassured her she’d be right on track and says, “He was right – it takes a full week to kick in. But within 24 hours, you don’t feel a bit tense anymore. Like I was able to lift my arms a little bit more and higher every day!” By getting the care she needed and taking steps to maintain her progress, we know that Sabrina will have the opportunity to continue the things that matter to her most. Thanks for choosing Genesis, Sabrina!