Fighting Joint Disease with Help from Bayhealth
Degenerative joint disease is a form of arthritis that breaks down and may even result in the loss of cartilage of the joints. The painful disease is something Dover resident Joan Cote has dealt with for most of her life and compares it to having car brakes with no brake pads.
To date, Cote has had two foot surgeries, three knee surgeries and had both hands repaired via surgery. Each surgery was a progressive process that included cortisone shots and physical therapy. Her most recent procedure, an arthroplasty, was done in December to replace her thumb joint using her own tendon. The procedure was performed by Orthopaedic Surgeon D.I. Singh, DO, MS, with Bayhealth Orthopaedics, Dover and Lewes. Surgery was followed by hand therapy with Certified Hand Therapist Jennifer Patrick, MS, OTR/L, CHT. In fact, most of Cote’s journey with her disease has been addressed through the help of Bayhealth staff.
“Having all of the services I needed with Dr. Singh and Jenn in the community and in the same system has made things easier for me. They work with each other often, which makes me more comfortable,” Cote said. Over the years, Patrick and Cote have formed a friendship which makes Cote’s therapy that much easier to work through.
Hand therapy is the practice of rehabilitating the upper quarter of a patient’s body. Each of Cote’s therapy sessions have featured relaxation techniques for her right hand. Her exercises include stretching out and pinching putty, soft tissue mobilization and massage, range of motion, pain and swelling control, and strengthening and improving the overall function of the hand. “I always teach patients that the body is like a machine. If one part isn’t working properly, it affects the rest of the machine,” Patrick said. “We tend to take our hands for granted. It’s so important that our patients do their exercises outside of therapy. It’s the only way they’ll progress the way they should.”
That’s exactly why Cote has followed orders with each of her surgeries and subsequent therapy experiences. Doing so is the only way she’ll get back to what she loves – playing with her grandsons and riding her motorcycle. She gives credit to the team at Bayhealth Outpatient Therapy and Dr. Singh. “There’s a lot of compassion in what they do here. They truly help you heal and push you enough without pushing you past your limits,” Cote said. “It’s nice to feel supported by a team.”
Visit Bayhealth.org/Outpatient-Therapy for more information on the therapy services provided at Bayhealth. If you’re in need of a physician, find one at Bayhealth.org/Physicians or call 1-866-BAY-DOCS (3627).
