When Cindy O’Leary first visited Great Basin Orthopaedics (GBO), she wanted to learn more about rotator cuff surgery and make a plan for her upcoming surgery. Then an accident landed her on the operating table earlier than she’d anticipated.
While riding her bike in the Somerset area with a friend, she swerved to avoid colliding with a car she believed was going to hit them. In an effort to protect her friend, she fell and shattered her wrist.
She was at GBO within the hour. She met with Dr. Timothy Dooley, who x-rayed her wrist and put it in traction. He performed surgery a week later.
Three and a half weeks after that surgery, she returned for surgery on her rotator cuff and bicep with Dr. Christopher Dolan.
“I was terrified after the accident, but the entire GBO team made me feel completely embraced,” Cindy says.
Related: Hip replacement gives patient a whole new life (Cindy’s daughter Caitlin had hip replacement surgery the same month)
Physical therapy helps her “deal”
After both her surgeries, Cindy worked with the GBO team on her rehabilitation, seeing physical therapist Amy Wehenmeyer and occupational therapist Cindy Hartman. Her focus was on getting her shoulder and wrist back to normal function so she could get back to work as a blackjack dealer at the Peppermill.
“All I do is use my hands at work,” she says. “While this is a slow process, I know I’ll get there. And I really like working with Amy and Cindy, and how calming they are.”
She adds that the entire GBO team, from the front office to the medical and physical therapy staff, has made her feel comfortable and well taken care of.
“While the accident was an ugly experience, I do feel really fortunate to have met all of these people,” she says. “And I’m sure I’ll have a full recovery.”
If you’re suffering, whether it’s from a pre-existing condition or an accident, call GBO at 775.786.1600 to schedule a consultation.