Nearly 35 years ago, after a serious roller-skating fall resulted in a comminuted fracture of her elbow, Marti was referred to OrthoIndy by her local hospital orthopedists.
That referral led her to OrthoIndy orthopedic surgeon Dr. Timothy Dicke (now retired), and it marked the beginning of a long-standing relationship built on trust, expertise and consistently positive outcomes.
Multiple Opportunities for Care
Over the years, Marti returned to OrthoIndy for several orthopedic needs. Dr. Dicke would later treat her with carpal tunnel surgery on both hands, and cubital tunnel surgery to resolve numbness and weakness in her elbow.
When shoulder pain developed, she was referred to OrthoIndy orthopedic surgeon Dr. Michael Thieken. For back issues, she saw orthopedic surgeon Dr. Michael Coscia (now retired), who performed spinal fusion surgery about three years ago.
“Every experience I’ve had with OrthoIndy has been great, so I kept coming back,” Marti said. As new symptoms emerged, Marti continued to rely on OrthoIndy physicians to guide her care, confident she was always being referred to the right specialist.
Overcoming Chronic Hip Pain
When hip pain began interfering with Marti’s daily life, she was referred to OrthoIndy orthopedic surgeon Dr. Troy Roberson, who saw her the same day. Imaging showed her pain was coming from an irritated fluid-filled sac near the spot where the hamstring connects to the hip bone. A Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) injection to help manage discomfort.
Over time, Marti started having pain in her hip again, so Dr. Roberson referred her to OrthoIndy joint replacement surgeon Dr. Philip Huang for a closer look. After reviewing her scans and talking through her options, Dr. Huang determined that her ongoing pain was a separate issue and that hip replacement surgery would be the best long-term solution.
“While the diagnosis was serious, I felt relieved knowing there was a clear path forward,” said Marti. “I knew addressing the issue sooner rather than later would help me return to the active lifestyle I love.”
As a retired veterinarian, Marti had a very specific goal in mind: to fully enjoy retirement without pain holding her back. She wanted to return to horseback riding, tending to animals, gardening and keeping up with the physical demands of her 500-acre property. She also wanted to get back to camping, traveling and hiking with her husband.
Continued Life-Changing Care
Marti underwent total hip replacement surgery with Dr. Huang in October 2025 without any problems. Following surgery, her recovery plan was straightforward and manageable, consisting primarily of at-home exercises and a gradual return to activity.
With only a few follow-up appointments, she steadily ramped up her movement and strength, listening to her body and building confidence along the way.
“Today, I feel great,” said Marti. “I’ve returned to my normal routine, and even recently had the opportunity to try out pickleball! I am just so thankful for all the positive interactions I’ve had with OrthoIndy over the last three decades.”
Now just a few weeks out from rotator cuff surgery with Dr. Thieken and thumb surgery with OrthoIndy hand and upper extremity surgeon Dr. Rashad Usmani, Marti says she has benefited from a coordinated approach that helped minimize her recovery time.
With the continued support of her OrthoIndy care team, Marti is looking forward to enjoying retirement with less pain and greater freedom to stay active.
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Don’t let pain limit your lifestyle. Make an appointment with our team today and get back on track.
