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Patient Testimonials

Jack Mosely experienced an immediate recovery after a reverse shoulder replacement surgery by Dr. Dave Collins at Arkansas Specialty Orthopaedics.

I had prior surgery on my rotator cuff however there came a point when I was unable to raise my arms above my shoulders. Dr. Collins at Arkansas Specialty Orthopaedics did a reverse shoulder replacement on my right shoulder first and then a little over a year later did my left shoulder. I had an almost immediate recovery. Within a month I was able to lift my arm over my head and I can now throw a football! I was only in a sling for 3 days after surgery and I have seen nothing but improvement from both of my surgeries. This was the best surgery I have ever had based on recovery and results!

Jack Mosely
Bryant, AR

When Eddie Price could not even do the things that he loved anymore, hunting and fishing, he turned to Dr. David Collins to give him his life back.

I had both of my shoulders replaced by Dr. David Collins with Arkansas Specialty Orthopaedics. It has been almost two
years now and I can do nearly everything that I used to do. Before the surgery I could hardly lift my arms at all. Both of
my shoulders are doing really well and I even lift weights four days a week to keep up my strength. The best part is that
I have been able to get back to the hunting, fishing and playing with my grandkids that I was unable to do before.

Eddie Price
Jacksonville, AR

Joe Schwartz heard that pop that everyone describes when they tear their ACL.

I heard the popping sound that everyone describes during practice one day when I was playing for the Arkansas Twisters, Little Rock’s arena football league. I knew that I had torn my ACL. I saw Dr. Tucker at Arkansas Specialty Orthopaedics and he described the double bundle ACL reconstruction that he was going to do to fix my ACL. It took two surgeries to completely repair my injury but two years later I am back to doing everything that I did before! I would recommend Dr. Tucker and Arkansas Specialty Orthopedics to anyone looking for an orthopaedic doctor.

Joe Schwartz
Heber Springs, AR

When three other doctors recommended Dr. Lowry Barnes at Arkansas Specialty Orthopaedics Gail McKinnon knew that he was the surgeon she would choose to do her knee surgery.

I endured pain in both of my knees for over 3 years. I can clearly remember the cold day that I fell and knew that I could no longer tolerate the pain in my knee. I could no longer enjoy life! I asked my family physician as well as two other doctors to whom they would go to if they were going to have knee surgery and without hesitation all three of them said Dr. Lowry Barnes. I made an appointment with Dr. Barnes and set up a total joint replacement surgery for both of my knees six weeks apart. The surgeries went very well and there are no words that I can say to express what I feel now. I have my life back. Dr. Barnes also recommended Dr. David Collins with Arkansas Specialty Orthopaedics for shoulder pain I had. Another orthopaedic surgeon had done 2 surgeries on my shoulder already but I was still unable to even lift my arm up. Dr. Collins gave me full motion back. I am so thankful to Dr. Barnes and Dr. Collins for giving me a second chance at life. It is as if I have been set free from a prison of pain.

Gail McKinnon
Little Rock, AR

Over 30 years of heavy lifting left Boots Simmons unable to lift his arm over his hip.

I drove trucks and worked the docks for over 30 years. In 1999 I went to my family physician because I was no longer able to lift my arm above my hip and I felt like my arms kept getting shorter. My family physician referred me to Dr. David Collins with Arkansas Specialty Orthopaedics. At that time Dr. Collins was not able to do anything for me however, a couple of years later I heard that he had learned a new procedure and went back to see him. Dr. Collins did shoulder surgery on me and now I can raise my arm just as if it was never hurt. I have no pain at all. I did therapy at home and although Dr. Collins doesn’t like me to, I can lift up to 40lbs now! Dr. Collins gave me my independence back.

”Boots” Simmons
Augusta, AR

Carleen Duncan wanted to get back to dancing!

My name is Carleen Duncan and I was 70 in February 2008. On August 2, 2006, Dr. Barnes performed total hip replacement surgery for me at St. Vincent Hospital in Little Rock, AR. Before the surgery I was in constant pain which led to my being grumpy, moody and complaining all the time. My knees, hips, and lower back hurt every time I walked or moved and I did not want to go any place or move around because of that pain. The day after my surgery, the hospital staff had me up walking and after a short hospital confinement, I continued to perform my home exercises and to walk every day as instructed. The result was that by December 2006, I was back to line and country western ten-step dancing. My husband and I still dance 2 to 3 times a week plus I walk 3 miles most days. I would have joint replacement surgery again in a “New York Minute” as my quality of life has improved 200% and I am now back to being my laughing, happy and lively self. My advice to anyone needing joint replacement surgery is to have the surgery yesterday. Just be sure to have Dr. Barnes for your surgeon and St. Vincent for your hospital.

Carleen Duncan
Pensacola, FL

When he could hardly walk anymore, Clyde Gray decided it was time to have a problem that had plagued him his entire life fixed.   

I had a hip condition since I was a child and many times any exertion or exercise would give me a considerable amount of pain and make me limp.  Over time the pain would dissipate and my limp would go away.  Eventually the pain stopped going away and I had a constant limp that kept me from walking any distance.  My sister had a hip replacement performed by Dr. Barnes and she was very happy with the outcome – I decided to make an appointment with him and see what my options were.  Dr. Barnes showed me the x-rays of my hip and pointed out where the head of my femur was deformed causing the pain all of my life.  Dr. Barnes performed a total hip replacement and I have not had one problem since.  I have been so happy with the outcome of the surgery I would recommend anyone with hip pain to go see Dr. Barnes at Arkansas Specialty Orthopaedics.     

Clyde Gray Jonesboro, AR

After 15 years if pain that just got worse over time, Russell Browning knew that if he did not do something soon he would no longer be able to work. 

I was continuously in a great deal of pain.  I had hurt my knee playing softball and for 15 years the pain got progressively worse over time eventually preventing me from kneeling, working in the yard and even from walking well.  I had a unispacer put in my knee to alleviate the pain but never felt any difference.  My sister-in-law, who is also a nurse, recommended that I change doctors and go see Dr. Barnes.  Dr. Barnes performed a total knee replacement and I have now resumed my work in the yard!  My therapists were great during my recovery – I could not have been happier with my outcome and only wish I had done the total replacement sooner. 

Russell Browning
Sherwood, AR

Dr. Tucker has been my doctor going on 10 plus years and I can truly say he cares as much about me as he does as a patient. 

He listens to my concerns, understands my pain and corrects the issues.  The greatest compliment that I would give Dr. Tucker is my trust.  I know Dr. Tucker will make the medical decision which will be in my best interest.
Thanks Dr. Tucker. RR
 
Randy Rainwater
Little Rock, AR

A sky diving accident left R.D. Lemons with a fractured hip and pain that handicap his life for 8 months. 

I had a sky diving accident where I landed on my right leg and right arm.  I went to see my local doctor who sent me to therapy for the hip.  Even after continuing therapy my hip was still bothering me.  Many others around me were in therapy for a hip replacement and some of them had their replacements done by Dr. Lowry Barnes.  They were all so satisfied with their results that I thought I would go and make myself an appointment with him.  Dr. Barnes took one look at my x-rays and saw my hip was fractured, he said that I would need a hip replacement.  After the surgery I was back on my feet in a few months and was relieved of the pain I had felt for 8 months.  Although sometimes my hip is still sore, there has been a drastic improvement and I would do the surgery all over again if faced with the same situation.  I would strongly recommend anyone to go see Dr. Barnes if they have hip pain. 

R.D. Lemons
Jonesboro, AR

When hip pain kept him from sleeping at night Horace Kelley knew he could not put up with the pain any longer.

When I was a teenager I broke my hip. Overtime the cartilage in that hip wore thin and created a severe amount of pain that kept me from being able to put on socks and tie my shoes. I put up with the pain for ten years trying to avoid surgery however when I became unable to sleep at night I knew that something had to be done. I went to see Dr. Barnes at the recommendation of my family doctor and friends who are nurses. After my total hip replacement surgery my pain was gone – I walk better now than I did prior to my surgery and I feel better and better each day. I waited ten years to have surgery but I should have had it ten years ago.

Horace Kelley
North Little Rock, AR

A seasoned nurse for over 40 years, Gladys Beal, trusted Dr. Wayne Bruffett, Spine Surgeon with Arkansas Specialty Orthopaedics to help her get back on her feet. 

After having back pain for several years that became so severe I could barely walk, I finally decided that I needed to go see someone.  I was nervous and afraid that the surgery was going to fail.  Quite frankly, I still wasn’t sure I was going to go through with it.  Within the first five minutes of my appointment with Dr. Bruffett I felt like I known him my entire life.  He spent time with me showing me what was wrong and told me what he could do to help.  I trusted him implicitly because after being a nurse for over 40 years, I had worked with many surgeons and he is by far the best technician I have ever seen - he is magic. 

I had no pain immediately after surgery and have not had one problem since the procedure.  With minimal therapy following the surgery and most of it at home I had a very smooth recovery.  Having surgery at Arkansas Specialty Orthopaedics restored my quality of life and was the best thing that I have ever done!

Gladys Beal
Little Rock, AR

As a professional angler on the Women’s Bassmaster Tour, Jan Heavener relied on Arkansas Specialty Orthopedics to get her back in the water.     

At a fishing tournament before my first day of the competition, I woke up in the middle of the night because my arms were going to sleep. I sat up in the bed and rubbed my arms to make the feeling return to my fingers.  

When you are on the tournament trail, you must be able to direct all your energy to your fishing and not your problems with pain. Carpel Tunnel Syndrome was not the diagnosis that I wanted to hear.  

Let me explain, I am a professional angler on the Women’s Bassmaster Tour and I have to keep on the top of my game. I started having problems with my hands going to sleep at night and during the day while doing simple task such as driving and working on the computer. It was time to get something done, so I made an appointment with Dr. Jeanine Andersson.    

I was sure it was just a pinched nerve in my neck, but after a thorough examination it was discovered that I suffered from Carpel Tunnel Syndrome.  We started with the steroid injections in both wrists. This was a temporary fix and it got me through the last tournament of my season. The next step was surgery.  

I will never regret this move. Dr Andersson and Arkansas Specialty Orthopedics worked with me and my schedule. She understood my needs as an angler as well as a patient.  

I scheduled the first surgery the week after my last tournament. I had no idea what I was getting into. The second wrist was planned 3 weeks later. I had asked to do both at the same time. I was informed by Dr Andersson it would be best to do them in two visits. She was right. The hardest part about the surgery was taking a shower and drying my hair. If only I had known this would be so easy, I wouldn’t have put up with the problems it was causing for me for such a long time.  

The surgery is quick and you are home that afternoon. Mild medication took care of my minor discomfort. I had to wear a bandage for about 10 to 14 days and keep it dry. I really didn’t have any down time. I spent the days after the surgery on a deer stand at deer camp.  After a full recovery I had no scaring and no limitations. I was back on the tournament trail with no restrictions at the end of February, just 3 short months later.  

I have nothing but good words about Arkansas Specialty Orthopedics, Dr. Andersson, and her great staff. If you are having problems such as mine, do not hesitate to contact Dr Jeanine Anderson and get on with your life.  See you at the lake.  

Jan Heavener