Joanne Hiner, 42, a police detective and keen horse rider, from Rotherham, was determined to walk down the aisle on her wedding day without using crutches – just two weeks after a second hip replacement operation.
Joanne admits that having an end goal in sight spurred her along the recovery journey as well as support from the team at Practice Plus Group Hospital, Barlborough.
“I was also delighted to be able to walk to our reception unaided afterwards too. What was even better was that in every photo I looked like me, and not someone who had just had a hip replacement!“
Jo Hiner, double hip replacement patient at Practice Plus Group Hospital, Barlborough
Her journey to a double hip replacement began even before she got engaged to long-term partner, Michael. At just 41, arthritis was causing excruciating pain in her right hip. Joanne felt her life had ground to a halt when she was no longer able to ride her beloved horse Harvey, undertake her police duties, or even walk to the local shops. She was referred to Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust, but months went by and still no date for surgery.
When Michael proposed and a wedding date was set for the following June – 9 months away – she was keener than ever to get the surgery she desperately needed. Whilst waiting, she’d discovered she had a right to choose where she had her NHS operation and spoke to her GP about switching waiting lists.
Joanne says, “For my first hip replacement I was initially referred to Rotherham Hospital and told I’d get replacement surgery within three months – but the goalposts moved twice, and eventually, after nearly 12 months waiting with no operation in sight, I went back to my GP in tears and asked if I could be seen somewhere else. I’d heard that Practice Plus Group Hospital in Barlborough had shorter waiting times and wanted my GP to refer me there to help speed things up a bit.
“With my wedding plans in motion, I knew our big day would be ruined if I was still in so much pain.”
Jo Hiner, double hip replacement patient at Practice Plus Group Hospital, Barlborough
“With my wedding plans now in motion, I knew our big day would be ruined if I was still in so much pain and I didn’t want any further delays for surgery,” says Joanne. “My doctor agreed to refer me to Practice Plus Group Hospital in Barlborough, and a few weeks later I went to meet the consultant and was booked in to have surgery 12 weeks later in the December – which would be six months before the wedding.
“Whilst waiting for my surgery date the pain grew. I can’t begin to describe how bad it was. I was no longer able to go to work as I could barely walk and my dream of walking up the aisle on our wedding day seemed impossible.
“When the day for my surgery came, the team in Barlborough were amazing. I was able to stay in two nights to rest and recover, before returning home with crutches.”
In the weeks after her right hip replacement, Joanne began to recover well, but found she was overcompensating for the new hip, causing her left hip to deteriorate. She felt back to square one. It was now February – the wedding was paid for in full and the countdown was very much on!
Joanne says, “Seeing how much pain I was in again, Michael asked if I’d be ok to get married in four months’ time. He jokingly said as we’d paid there was no going back! That spurred me to do something again, so I went back to my GP. Another x-ray confirmed the left hip now needed replacing too.”
This time, Joanne was given a surgery wait time of 12 weeks back at Practice Plus Group Hospital, Barlborough for the middle of May. Whilst relieved that she could have the surgery sooner than at her NHS hospital and still as an NHS patient, her op was scheduled in for just two weeks before her wedding.
“Before the operation it was like someone had pressed pause on my world…I really feel I can start my new chapter as Mrs Hiner pain-free!”
Jo Hiner, double hip replacement patient at Practice Plus Group Hospital, Barlborough
Joanne says, “My left hip was operated on only 14 days before the wedding and I was so pleased that the surgery went really well again. I stayed in overnight before going home to recover and finalise our wedding plans. I’m such an active, determined person that when I left the hospital, I decided I was going to leave without using the crutches! I couldn’t face the thought of being a bride on crutches on my big day – you only marry once and I wanted to be able to walk down the aisle unaided. I didn’t want pictures to be taken of me with crutches and look like I’d just had surgery.
“In the fortnight that followed, I focused on my goal of getting married and slowly pottered around the house, taking painkillers for any discomfort. I’d had to re-think my bridal outfit though, as my leg was swollen and bruised from the operation, so I ordered a lovely white linen suit, with baggy trouser legs and a pair of white trainers – as there was no way I could wear heels now!
“When the big day arrived – 1st June, the same day as my birthday – it was amazing! My crutches were tossed aside as I’d hoped, and I was able to walk down the aisle and stand throughout the ceremony. We’d opted for a small wedding with just our neighbours as witnesses and our son, Harry, as our special guest.
“I was also delighted to be able to walk to our reception unaided afterwards too. What was even better was that in every photo I looked like me, and not someone who had just had a hip replacement!
“Since having both my hips done, things have gone back to normal. Before the operation it was like someone had pressed pause on my world – not able to work, ride my horse or even begin to think about celebrating a beautiful wedding day! I really feel I can start my new chapter as Mrs Hiner pain-free.”
