Profiles

Here, you can find any of the interviews on this site.



Beverley

Five years ago, Beverley had arthroscopy manipulation to help with a frozen right shoulder. Two years later, she had the same problem in her left shoulder; had the same type of surgery and regained full movement of her left shoulder. Six months later, her left shoulder became painful and stiff, limiting arm movement. She had decompression surgery three weeks ago and says her left shoulder is still painful and stiff. She still takes painkillers at bedtime and she is doing her rehabilitation exercises three times a day.

  • Background

    Beverley is married with three adult children and grandchildren. She works part-time as a receptionist. Ethnic background: White British.

  • Age at interview 52
  • Sex/Gender Female

    • Sue

    Sue had aches and pains in her shoulder for eighteen months and at first, she went for private physiotherapy to help her cope with it. Physiotherapy only helped her regain partial movement so she went to see her GP, who referred her to a specialist. The consultant recommended a steroid injection, but when that failed to work, she was told that surgery was her best option. Sue used the Technology Enhanced Patient Information (TEPI) website several times before her surgery. The information she found on the site made her feel well prepared and relaxed about her upcoming surgery. Her surgery went well and she has regained full movement of her shoulder. She is back at work.

  • Background

    Sue is single with two adult children. She works full-time as a school manager. Ethnic background: White British.

  • Age at interview 48
  • Sex/Gender Female

    • Rosemary

    Rosemary had restricted movement and pain in her shoulder, and was told that surgery was the best option. The operation went well but her recovery took a lot longer than she'd expected. Since surgery, she has had lots of bruising on her shoulder and chest.

  • Background

    Rosemary is widowed with four adult children. She works full-time as a textile teacher. Ethnic background: White British.

  • Age at interview 62
  • Sex/Gender Female

    • Olive

    For three years Olive experienced shoulder pain and received a number of treatments which either provided short-term relief or did not work. Towards the end of the three years, she was in such severe pain that she was put on opiates. Her husband wrote to the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, an NHS hospital explaining her situation and asking for help. He was fearful for her emotional and physical wellbeing. Within weeks of seeing the specialist, Olive had her surgery. Since then, things have much improved and she has regained a lot of her arm and shoulder mobility.

  • Background

    Olive is married with two adult children. Ethnic background: Welsh.

  • Age at interview 76
  • Sex/Gender Female

    • Jenny

    For several years, Jenny complained of pain and lack of shoulder movement. She was given cortisone injections but there was no improvement. She had shoulder surgery but she is still having shoulder pain. Pain is affecting her everyday life in many ways including sleep and overall mobility. She has arthritis and has had problems with her knees, hips and back. Before her shoulder surgery, she was already on long-term painkillers for her other health issues.

  • Background

    Jenny is divorced and has three children, aged 39, 37 and 34 years old. She works full-time as a support worker. Ethnic background: White British.

  • Age at interview 64
  • Sex/Gender Female

    • Jasmine

    Jasmine slipped and fell in the snow and was told she had a fractured shoulder. Her injury limited the movement in her arm and was affecting her ability to carry out her work duties. She was initially given an injection for pain relief and she also attended physiotherapy sessions for six months. These treatments did not improve her arm's mobility. She eventually saw a specialist and was told she needed surgery. Jasmine's surgery went well and she gradually regained movement in her arm but remains wary of using her right arm when restraining clients at work.

  • Background

    Jasmine is married with two children. She works full-time as a nursing assistant. Ethnic background: Asian.

  • Age at interview 47
  • Sex/Gender Female

    • Professor Andrew Price

    His undergraduate training was at Cambridge University and St. Thomas Hospital in London. He studied for a PhD as a postgraduate student at Oxford University and completed his Orthopaedic surgical training in Oxford, based at the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre. He is a Fellow of Worcester College (Oxford University), where he is Director of Studies for Clinical Medicine.

  • Background

    Andrew Price is a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon at the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre NHS Trust and Professor of Musculoskeletal Science at the Nuffield Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Oxford University.

    • Hugh

    Hugh had knee problems since he was a boy. He had partial knee replacement surgery to his right knee and later to the left knee in 2014. Hugh's operation was postponed 3 times and he contacted PALS for support.

  • Background

    Hugh is a fork lift driver and has 3 adult children. Ethnic background / nationality: Jamaican

  • Age at interview 61
  • Sex/Gender Male

    • Kevin

    Kevin started getting mild discomfort in one of his knees whilst playing professional football in the early 1960s. In June 2014 he was expecting to have partial knee replacement surgery but was given a total knee replacement. He was recovering well at the time of interview.

  • Background

    Kevin is retired. He is married and has 2 adult children. Ethnic background / nationality: White British.

  • Age at interview 72
  • Sex/Gender Male

    • Alice

    Alice started having knee pain around 1994. She had partial knee replacement surgery in 2014. She was wary of the benefits of the operation at first, but is doing well now and has seen clear improvement'.

  • Background

    Alice in a research officer. She is divorced and has 2 adult children. Ethnic background / nationality: White British.

  • Age at interview 62
  • Sex/Gender Female