Before Ron Wommack was an architect he was an active high school baseball player. His love for the game continued through college and into adulthood as he played baseball on men's teams until his mid-50s.
After decades enjoying America's pastime, Wommack began having issues with his knees, so he gave up baseball. Bicycling and walking became his primary forms of exercise until 2014 when he slipped and injured his right knee. The injury caused him to alter his gate, placing additional pressure on his left knee.
"Eventually it got to where it was bone-on-bone, so I knew it was time to consider replacement," says Wommack.
Wommack planned for surgery with a Dallas-based doctor, and this physician suggested that both knees be replaced at the same time. After an eight-month wait, the surgery date neared, but Wommack's doctor felt his sugar level was a bit too high, thus he would have to wait several more months for surgery until the level could be lowered. Not wanting to delay that long, Wommack began investigating other surgical options.
Do Your Research
His fiancée found a doctor in Chicago who specialized in a minimally invasive procedure, which Wommack considered, but he felt that it would be better to go with a local doctor in case there were complications post-surgery. After additional investigation and research, Wommack and his fiancée found Dr. Donald Hohman and the Texas Health Center for Diagnostics and Surgery in Plano. He's glad he did because Dr. Hohman's expertise, and the care Wommack received at the hospital, has made a world of difference in his life.
Most significantly, Dr. Hohman recommended that rather than replace both knees at once they should just do the left knee first. That would enable Wommack to see how he recovered and then assess whether surgery on the other knee would even be necessary.
"I liked Dr. Hohman's approach because it would certainly be easier to recover with only one knee to focus on," adds Wommack.
On January 15, 2018, Wommack finally had his long-awaited surgery, and he couldn't be happier. "From the excellence exhibited by Dr. Hohman and the surgical team, to the immediate post-operative care at the hospital, my experience was outstanding. I had my surgery at 8:30 in the morning and by 2:30 PM that same day they had me up and moving around with a walker!"
Recovering
Four weeks after surgery Wommack was able to return to work full-time. A few weeks later he began walking without the support of a cane. He especially notes the importance of physical therapy in his recovery.
"There were days I dreaded the physical therapy sessions, but each time I could literally feel more strength in my knee the next day. Their assistance in helping me "re-learn" how to walk so as to not strain my right knee has been important as well."
As an architect, Wommack must develop elegant, innovative, and cost-effective solutions that are not overly complex or "fussy," and which meet the needs of his clients. Dr. Hohman, says Wommack, took a similar approach with his knee surgery. "He could have recommended I do both knees, and not knowing any better I might have gone along since the other doctor had suggested that as well. However, Dr. Hohman took a more conservative view, which so far has proven to be the absolute right choice. My surgically repaired knee is doing great, while the other knee seems to have adjusted and is giving me much less trouble. Dr. Hohman's approach was straightforward, professional and exactly what I needed, nothing more. I couldn't be happier and would encourage anybody needing a replacement of their own to work with Dr. Hohman and Texas Health Center for Diagnostics and Surgery in Plano."