SEBRING, Fla. — George Moore of Lake Placid had been dealing with right shoulder pain for about a decade, when he finally decided enough was enough.
“Just over time, it got worse and worse, so I decided to do something about it,” Moore said.
The 40-year-old father of six children is one of nearly 60 million people in the United States affected by Arthritis. May is Arthritis Awareness Month, a time meant to emphasize research, service and education around the disease. According to the Arthritis Foundation, about 1 in 4 adults and hundreds of thousands of children in the U.S. have been diagnosed by a doctor with a form of arthritis or related illness. It’s the number one cause of disability in the U.S. The Arthritis Foundation also said, contrary to the common misconception, it’s not just a disease that impacts older people. About two-thirds of those living with arthritis are 65 years old or younger.
Moore went to Dr. Havalee Henry, an orthopedic surgeon with AdventHealth Sebring for help. Moore said he was told arthritis ate away at the cartilage in his shoulder, leaving him in pain and with a limited range of motion.
“I exhausted every avenue that I could before I decided to have surgery, from medications to injections to physical therapy, but there was no relief,” Moore said.
After further consulting with Dr. Henry, Moore went ahead with the surgery, and he said he couldn’t be happier with the results.
“This has been a life-changing surgery for me,” Moore said. “My right shoulder is absolutely magnificent, I wish I had done it ten years ago. I tell people all the time, Dr. Henry did a terrific job. I have not experienced any difficulty, any pain, any setbacks and I have full range of motion.”
Moore also praised Dr. Henry for the great attention to detail in his treatment plan and just how much she cared about helping him.
“She’s always approachable and she made sure I understood everything that was going to happen,” Moore said. “What was really heart-touching to me was the simple fact that the surgery took a little longer, because she took extra time to make sure that the repairs were the best they could be. Knowing my age and I have a full life ahead of me, she also knew I have a big family at the house who depends on me, that was important and that was very special to me.”
In addition to spending time with his family, Moore owns a food truck and catering business. He also loves fishing and working out.
Moore added he’s been dealing with similar pain in his left shoulder and plans to have Dr. Henry perform surgery to fix it in the months ahead.
Throughout AdventHealth’s network of care in Sebring, Lake Placid, and Wauchula, patients can receive expert treatments for arthritis, joint pain, bursitis, fractures, joint injuries, and more. Using minimally invasive procedures and gentle physical therapy, AdventHealth’s team of expert orthopedic doctors aim to help patients find healing, strength, and freedom from limitations. To learn more about the treatment options and orthopedic doctors, like Dr. Henry, go to Orthopedic Care | AdventHealth.
— Provided by AdventHealth