Ruth Graf says she was becoming a different person prior to her hip surgery. “I didn’t want hip surgery. I wanted to stay active and keep walking and swimming. I was worried that a hip replacement would keep me from doing the activities that I enjoy,” Graf said. “Then, I started getting cranky, because I hurt. I didn’t want to do anything anymore. I used to walk in the mountains, but I just couldn’t do it anymore. They (my husband and friends) told me that I could go along on trips and stay in the hotel. That’s when I decided to have something done.” 

Graf said she was never pushed by medical staff to have hip replacement surgery, but she is glad that she chose to have one done. She is equally happy to tell, anyone who will listen, that she had the surgery across the street from her home. “I saved a lot of hours and a lot of money having it close to home,” Graf said. “It is great that we have all the expertise right here in our own community.” 

She said her primary physician and friend Dr. Neil Bard saw her trying to walk and told her that the pain might stay the same, might get worse, but it wouldn’t get better. Then after unsuccessfully trying to walk off the pain, she conceded to have a consultation with an orthopedic surgeon. Armed with many questions, Graf met with Dr. Thomas Beck, the Orthopedic Surgeon at the Richland Hospital and Richland Medical Center. She found Dr. Beck to be personable and helpful. 

“He doesn’t talk down to you, he answered my questions in a way that I could understand,” Graf said. “Dr. Beck talked to me about following proper protocols established across the country in order to get the best results and I am still following them today.”  

Dr. Beck’s expertise has led to new procedures being done in the Richland Hospital and in the state of Wisconsin. His treatments are conservative when possible, surgical when needed and always with the patient’s best health taken into consideration in the choice of care that is offered. “Every surgery is less invasive,” Dr. Beck said. “We always make as small an incision as possible. Less cutting and removing of tissue results in quicker healing and less pain,” Dr. Beck said.  

Following hip replacement surgery, Graf stayed in the inpatient unit at the Richland Hospital for recovery. “Dr. Beck came in to see me everyday. He listened and kept track of everything I said. Even when he had surgery, he spent time. I never felt like he was in a hurry to get to someone or something else.”  

Graf spoke highly of all the care she received from others at the hospital. “Nurses sat and talked with me. Physical therapists came twice every day. And when Dr. Bard couldn’t come, Dr. Richards came. Everyone was excellent,” she said.

Today, Graf is doing very well. She is back to walking and swimming everyday. “I haven’t had any pain in my legs at all,” she said. “I would highly recommend having surgery at the Richland Hospital. I felt like I was being taken care of in a caring community. The equipment is impressive, and the people are even more impressive.”