Can-Do Spirit
What started as a whim quickly became a passion. “I saw a flyer for a 10K (6.2 miles) race and thought running it would be a good challenge,” remembered Terry Jones, a 51-year-old Burbank wife and mother of four sons. “That was about 10 years ago and I’ve been running ever since.”
Actually, Terry experienced a brief interruption, though at the time she feared a far worse fate. During a May 2006 training run, Terry heard a clicking sound in her knee. The knee gave out and swelled instantly. Merely walking and navigating steps became quite difficult.
“I was afraid this might end my serious running,” Terry said, “but I didn’t feel that the physician I first saw addressed my concerns, so I went to Loyola.”
“I tell my patients that I’m a tennis player and no one’s going to tell me I can’t play tennis,” said Neeru Jayanthi, MD, assistant professor, family medicine and orthopaedic surgery & rehabilitation, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine (LUC SSOM), and medical director, primary care sports medicine. “I will be playing tennis until I’m at least 80 years old.”
That mindset forged an immediate connection between doctor and patient. “That’s what I wanted to hear, not that I couldn’t run again or that this was going to slow me down for too long.” Dr. Jayanthi diagnosed Terry as having torn meniscus (cartilage). She would need surgery to repair her knee. “He assured me that I’d run again, which bonded me with him and the whole sports medicine program.”
Dr. Jayanthi referred Terry to a sports medicine colleague, orthopaedic surgeon Douglas Evans, MD, assistant professor, orthopaedic surgery & rehabilitation, LUC SSOM. Dr. Evans performed the arthroscopic (minimally invasive) repair at Loyola’s state-of-the art outpatient surgery center. Dr. Evans and Pietro Tonino, MD, associate professor, orthopaedic surgery & rehabilitation, LUC SSOM, and program director of Loyola Sports Medicine, who specializes in sports injuries, are among the most experienced and active arthroscopic surgeons in the Chicago area. Each year their combined caseload includes between 600 and 700 arthroscopic surgeries.
“Our sports medicine group cares for any injury or illness that limits someone’s active lifestyle, from a Loyola University basketball star to the casual weekend tennis player,” Dr. Evans said. “Terry’s case illustrates how we work together as a seamless team. There are four primary care physicians on our sports medicine team: Sara Brown, MD, assistant professor, family medicine, LUC SSOM, Haemi Choi, MD, assistant professor, family medicine, LUC SSOM, Jim Winger, MD, assistant professor, family medicine, LUC SSOM and Dr. Jayanthi. They all have been fellowship trained and have special interests in sports medicine. They are readily available to see patients in seven different locations. In Terry’s case, Dr. Jayanthi identified her diagnosis and the appropriate treatment required, I performed the surgery that helped her run again in a timely and appropriate fashion, and our physical therapists guided Terry through her rehabilitation.”
“My experience at the surgical facility was wonderful,” Terry said. “About a week later I was basically pain-free. The therapists were very approachable. They gave me a program specific to my needs and what I wanted to accomplish.”
Within two months, Terry returned to running and last year she completed her first half marathon (13 miles). Today Terry has another goal, one that runners know is more than twice as ambitious as a half marathon.
“I want to do the Marine Corps Marathon, which is a hilly course in Washington, DC. My father was a marine in World War II, and when I cross the finish line, I’ll receive a medal from a marine. That will be very special.”
For an appointment or more information about Loyola’s sports medicine expertise, call (888) LUHS-888.
LOYOLA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SYSTEM
