Restoring mobility and independence and resuming activities of daily living is the goal for patients recovering from single and bilateral joint replacements. Often, the journey from painful movement to surgery, followed by rehabilitation, is filled with trepidation and procrastination, as Mary Ellyn Devery will tell you.  

Over a forty-year career as a theatrical producer and manager, Mary Ellyn has traveled the world - from New York’s Broadway to produce with the late Helen Hayes MacArthur, to Russia to bring the Bolshoi Ballet to America, to producing an award-winning show about Gertrude Stein, starring Pat Carroll. When knee problems caused so much pain that she could no longer face work or the rigors of travel, Mary Ellyn decided the time had finally come for a knee replacement.

Mary Ellyn credits her outstanding outcome to three factors: pre-surgical therapy, the skills of an exemplary surgeon and excellent post-surgical rehabilitation. “Dr. Thomas Sculco at the Hospital for Special Surgery performed my knee replacement. He was pleased that I was fortunate to have access to the rehabilitation services at HHH,” she says.

At her physician’s recommendation, Mary Ellyn came to HHH for several weeks of outpatient physical therapy prior to her surgery. She concentrated on performing a range of exercises that helped to strengthen the muscles around her knee and in her legs. Mary Ellyn was back at HHH for inpatient joint rehabilitation only two days after her surgery at HSS. She can vividly recall the pain, but worked hard at following her therapist’s instructions and directions.

Following discharge, Mary Ellyn continued her recovery at HHH with additional outpatient physical therapy, as well as warm water aquatic therapy, which improves flexibility and endurance while reducing stress on joints.

Today, Mary Ellyn is taking long walks with her papillon, Mimi – is pain free, and has been on four working cruises half way around the world, and made several working trips to Europe. “Having the very best rehabilitation after a joint replacement is key to a good outcome and I tell everyone that Helen Hayes Hospital should be the first place they consider for therapy following such surgery. Now, since my surgery and rehab, I don’t have to second-guess what I can do or where I can travel. I got my world back.”