Samantha R., 40, of South Park, is no stranger to UPMC hospitals.
Back in 2002, at 17, she was diagnosed with eosinophilia, a rare blood condition, which later developed into non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a cancer of the lymphatic system.
“I was devastated at first, but the doctors and staff at UPMC showed great care and compassion to help ease my worries,” Samantha says. “They handled everything quickly and expertly.”
Shortly after her diagnosis, she began a two-year chemotherapy regimen that involved five treatment regimens of spinal taps and multiple intravenous treatments; the final regimen was oral chemotherapy with monthly spinal taps. The methods were successful in eliminating the cancer, but her joints paid a heavy toll from the high doses of steroids.
A New Diagnosis
It wasn’t long before Samantha was suffering from avascular necrosis (AVN), also called osteonecrosis, which is the death of bone tissue caused by blocked blood flow. AVN affected both of Samantha’s shoulders and hips. The condition can cause bones to fracture or collapse easily — a hard reality for an active teenager.
“By the time I was 19, I had a limp and a lot of hip pain,” Samantha explains. That’s when doctors recommended a partial hip resurfacing procedure on her left side.
Hip resurfacing surgery is an alternative to a total hip replacement, which was the better choice for Samantha because she was so young. A surgeon replaces the hip socket and reshapes the femur (thigh bone) to fit into the new joint.
The surgery was successful, but required Samantha to use crutches and then a cane for recovery. Her reliance on the cane eventually caused the collapse of her right shoulder.
That’s when she went to see shoulder orthopaedic surgeon Mark Rodosky, MD, for the first time in what would become a decades-long relationship.
The First of Several Surgeries
Dr. Rodosky first performed surgery to remove the bone debris in Samantha’s right shoulder. The procedure was successful, but the AVN caused a condition known as “drop shoulder,” in which the shoulder blade sits lower than normal. It caused a loss of range of motion due to muscle weakness and the bone damage from the AVN.
“It looked like I had a severe shoulder injury with this big dent in my shoulder,” says Samantha. “It was time for a more significant surgery.”
A few months later, Dr. Rodosky performed a total shoulder replacement on Samantha’s right side. Samantha was still just a young adult, but the surgery and recovery went well. She regained full range of motion in her shoulder.
From there, Samantha kept up with Dr. Rodosky every three to four years to check on her shoulder’s health. It was years later, in October 2021, that he began discussing a total shoulder replacement for her left side.
“I knew I needed it, but I wanted to wait a few months for my daughter to grow out of her crib, as I wasn’t sure what recovery would look like as a mom,” explains Samantha.
In May 2022, Samantha underwent her second total shoulder replacement. “Everything went really well,” she exclaims. “I’m someone who brings up a lot of questions, and everyone was patient and kind with me, never irritated.”
Since then, Samantha continues to have checkups with Dr. Rodosky every few years, monitoring her shoulder health, mobility, and pain level.
New Hips to Go With New Shoulders
But the biggest testament to Samantha’s shoulders came last year when she had both hips replaced by reconstructive orthopaedic surgeon Kenneth Urish, MD, one in February 2024 and the other in June 2024.
“I needed to use a walker and cane for each procedure, and I didn’t have any shoulder pain or complications,” Samantha says. “I wouldn’t have been able to recover so well with my hip replacements if it weren’t for my healthy shoulders.”
Today, Samantha is proudly pain-free and has complete range of motion in her fully replaced shoulders and hips. She can participate in life with her 6- and 9-year-old daughters — whether they’re running around the yard or having dance parties in the living room. Her hips remain healthy and strong, and she’s confident her new joints will last a lifetime.
“I can’t help but speak highly of all the care I’ve gotten from all the doctors, systems, and hospitals from UPMC over the decades,” Samantha says. “Now let’s just hope my medical records stay quiet and boring for the next several decades!”
Editor's Note: This article was originally published on , and was last reviewed on .