After more than 10 years of trying every alternative under the sun, I finally made the decision to have my hips replaced. I found an amazing surgeon right here in my home town of Wasilla with Orthopedic Physicians Alaska (OPA) and Dr. Tucker Drury.  My first hip was replaced in October of 2020 and the outcome far exceeded my hopes and expectations. After just six weeks of physical therapy and three months of exercise and effort, I fully recovered.

Now, one year later, I have no pain on my left side and I’m able to walk and function at 90% of my old life, pretty amazing considering the hip joint had completely collapsed and left me crippled.

Then in June of 2021 I had my second (right) hip replaced. Because of all the physical therapy, planning and preparation, I am pleased to report that my second hip had an even better outcome and I am now back to a pain free life (well okay, not 100% pain free but that’s to be expected with enough birthdays) but no more chronic, non-stop pain which has drastically improved the quality of life.

If I were to give someone any advise about hip injuries, I would advise you to seek medical treatment as soon as possible. Had I gotten stem cell therapy when I was first injured, I might have been able to avoid a total hip replacement. Otherwise, don’t wait until you are really crippled. It takes more time and effort to recover the longer you wait. Check out your surgeon well in advance by checking with other medical professionals in your area that work with the surgeon, as well as patient reviews. Good luck on your journey!

Spending a month with the grandchildren was fun and amazing but did give me a bit of a set back when they jumped on me while I was lying on the floor. Fortunately, a trip to see Jay and Jen (Qi Gong) and Sam and Kevin (Alaska Acupuncture) at the Healing Center put me back on the path to health. Amazing that only one treatment can have such a dramatic effect and take away the pain, straighten out my spine and un-pinch my hips.

Now as I begin my 7th month of healing I feel like I have finally turned the corner and know I am healing well. I can now walk without pain, (still having a bit of trouble going up stairs,) but all in all, feel wonderful and amazing. I’m hiking again, riding my bike and doing most everything I love doing.

Dr. Cohen told me I could expect to continue healing for up to 18 months and now I feel like that is going to allow me to have a full recovery. Hooray. Feeling so grateful that I chose the Stem Cell path. The future of medical science is promising and convinces me to not give up. 

Allen McGhan

Today is my son’s birthday. He is 40. Forty! It seems so amazing. Looking at everything that has happened since this tiny baby was placed in my arms makes me feel blessed. I’ve truly lived a full life. Like most people, it hasn’t been all good but there has been so much good that the journey has been worth every challenge.  I also accept I’m closing in on the winter of my life. There is snow on my mountains… unless I hide it with John Freida, otherwise I continue to embrace each and every day because I know it will suddenly be all over. The final curtain.

Until that time comes, I’m going to do everything I can to make sure I’m still here for my son’s 63rd birthday.

My stem cells are continuing to grow and heal… I think. Ugh. The past two weeks have been testing my body to the limits. I’ve been picking up my 30 lb.  grandson dozens of times a day, going up and down huge flights of stairs more than I pick up Xander, in and out of the house, the car, up and down… Yeah, I’m feeling it. The fact I can and am doing all of this is a win. And right at this moment, I’ m sitting at my desk and only feel a tightness in my back. Thanks to my son I have access to a massage chair that really helps so I’ll head there when I finish with my morning office chores.

I continue to feel compelled to share my journey because I know there are so many people out there who are suffering from joint injuries and chronic pain because our bodies have been beaten up and are just flat wearing out. They ask about the stem cell treatments often.

I believe the stem cells are helping to slow the degeneration process. Do I think it’s a perfect solution or an easy one? No.

There are times when I’m hurting so much I want to cry. I’ve been able to push through it, flush with water, fast, stretch… and then I start feeling like I’m still on the road to healing. The pain seems to vanish and I feel relaxed and like a normal person again.

But then my grand children climbed on me and my back started hurting. Now I feel like I have a disk out in my low to mid back. Ugh.  Once I get home to Alaska I’m going to see my awesome therapist, Bobbie Mumm at Alaska Integrative Wellness. I’m confident her healing hands will help relieve all the kinks and knots.

Taking my grandson to Gymnastics this week about killed me. I wanted to run and play and spot him through all the fun obstacles the teacher had set up but instead I was limping around and grimacing in pain when I would try to get down, stretch, get up… Ugh. That was hard to take and makes me ready to consider more drastic options. I’m tired of so much pain.

For now I’m going to continue on and see if I get back on track once I return home from Grandma duty. Until then I’ll continued drinking goldenmilk, doing yoga and taking advantage of therapy. Plus playing with and enjoying my awesome grandchildren.

Life has been busy for me lately as I work on my construction projects, Alaska Avalanche Information Center work and preparing for time with my grandchildren.

I wish I could say that I have no pain and I’m getting around better than ever but that isn’t really the case. When I work too much or sit too long, I still have trouble getting up and walking, I find there is still times when I’m walking and go from feeling wonderful and normal, to a tightness and pain in my hips that is reminiscent of the pain pre-stem cell. But the good news, I can go to bed, sleep well and then get up in the morning and move freely again.

These I know are all signs of healing and I’m just working to get stronger every day and heal and grow. I’m also able to recognize the days I’m not eating clean, drinking enough water or stretching and strengthening. There is no cheating on this healing process. If you want to get over the pain, you got to keep at it every day.

Spring is coming to Wasilla and my greenhouse and garden are calling. I’m hoping to start digging in the dirt soon. I am now 14 weeks post-op and still improving but not to a point I can do everything I want without pain and discomfort. While I am having a much easier time getting around and doing typical movements, I still feel some intense pain in the ligaments, tendons and muscles of my legs at the end of a busy, active day.  The tightness in my gluteous and piriformis  muscles requires deep muscle massage by rolling on  a firm ball or foam roller. But I’m able to lie down now and sleep without much pain.

I also purchased a BioMat, an amethyst crystal infared heating mat that is purported to provide profound benefits of detoxification, rapid healing, and natural pain relief. I have slept on it for three nights but don’t really feel a profound difference so I’m trying to be patient and give it a chance. I don’t seem to be able to lie on it for more than about two hours before I need to get off of it and roll to my side.

Still healing and feeling good about my decision.

Cross Country Skiing in Thompson Pass 11 weeks Post Op

I woke up yesterday, 12 weeks post-op, and felt amazingly improved and on my way to a full recovery. I’m sleeping much better without pain and when I stood up and walked, I had no pain. As the day went on, I did feel some pain and stiffness, especially on the right side, but it went away with some stretching and movement. Sitting is still my worst enemy.  I have been busy at work and find that is the most detrimental to my progress.

The days I walk, ski, swim or bike, I do find I may get a bit sore, but it’s a normal soreness caused from out of shape muscles.

At this stage in my recovery, I am extremely pleased and optimistic that I will have a much more pain free future. I am grateful to Regenxx and the team at HealthLink Medical clinic for this option to healing.  It’s not easy but it’s working and I will continue to follow the suggestions from my doctor and keep moving. Motion is lotion for your joints. Onward ho!

I will also continue with the massage from my trigger point therapists who are helping to relieve so many years of pent up stress in my joints. Another key to good healing.

This week I had a bit of a set back because I over did it while working to build a fence around a five-acre parcel I own in Colorado. However, after a day of rest I know I am definitely making progress again. I came back to the mountains and worked with my friend and neighbor to install this field fence to protect our property from the neighbors sheep. On day five we took much needed time off to rest and recover. My legs have been aching at night but I’m sure it’s because I did too much walking on uneven ground, carrying posts, shoveling, raking… The amazing part is I was able to do those things at all!

Yesterday I went to see my friend Jean Bean in Pagosa Springs who is a practicing therapist in Quantum Energetics. It’s a very cool way to reset the bodies brain and energy channels to break through entrapments and allow the body to heal more effectively. When I first laid down on the table my hips were aching but within a few minutes of her beginning to work, the pain went away and I drifted into a place of peace, quiet and relaxation.

Interesting stuff. I continue to diligently work to heal my body. One day at a time but big steps forward. I think the most important thing I have learned on this journey is not to get discouraged and to keep going every day. I was able to get up this morning and go through my one-hour yoga, stretch, weight workout and I feel better and ready to carry on.