Comebacks Start Here: Patient-Centered Care in Action

I have both knees that were painful and bone on bone. I have lived with this for years. I first went to see Dr. Goodman around February 2025. He suggested that I lose weight and gave me a steroid injection in my left knee. Referred me to Dr. Peavy. I needed to lose weight and started the hard journey of losing weight. Saw Dr. Peavy, and he instructed me that I had to have a BMI of 40 in order to do the surgery. I have a trip planned in October where I’ll be in Europe for about a month. I went to see Dr. Peavy, thinking I had lost the correct amount of weight. But sadly had not. But he was so sweet and scheduled my surgery because his schedule was about 2 2-month wait. I promised him I would have the weight off, and I did.

In May, I was advised on all the things I needed to do in order to prepare myself for surgery. I was told the Enroute drinks suggested were not covered by insurance, and the cost is about $300. Well, I think my health is worth more than $300, so I purchased the surgical Enroute drinks. I drank 2 per day two weeks prior and am working on the two per day two weeks afterwards. The fact that I lost the weight by eating healthier, drinking the drinks, and having an absolutely wonderful doctor with Dr. Peavy, my surgery on July 8, 2025, went fantastically.

I took pain pills on the second day because I didn’t have any Tylenol. But bought some Tylenol the next day and take them three times a day as suggested, and haven’t had to have any pain pills. I started physical therapy two days after surgery, and my physical therapist has been amazed at my recovery. In the first week, I had 110 degrees of bending motion in my knee. He said I’m aiming for 120-140 degrees. And straightening out my knee, I’m about 4 degrees off. My physical therapist said that my knee replacement is the best he’s ever seen!! I’m thrilled and so happy when he encourages me like this. I didn’t have any bruising on my knee my incision looks great. It’s a little dry since I took off the bandage yesterday. I am only one week and one day out of surgery, and my physical therapist says some people aren’t as far along as I am at a month to 12 weeks. So I’m super happy and so thankful to Dr. Peavy and his staff. His trusting me to lose the rest of the weight and go ahead and schedule my surgery means the world to me!!!

It’s been a journey and a fight at times to get here. But doing what Dr. Peavy told me to do and him being my surgeon has been an amazing experience. I’m so thankful my daughter told me to go to OrthoAlabama and Dr. Goodman for sending me to Dr. Peavy!! I have a cruise planned with my grandkids on August 9, and my granddaughter, who is 6, said last week, coming out of physical therapy, “MiMi, you're walking straight!!! You’re not walking like a penguin anymore!”

So there ya go. If you don’t wanna be a penguin, have knee surgery with Dr Peavy! lol

After serving 20 years in the Navy, I worked part-time for the Post Office, where I was mowing the yard with a zero-turn mower. A drainage ditch was covered up, and I drove the tractor into the ditch, flipping it over on me. After 7 spinal blocks without any help, I saw Dr. Peavy, who did a total hip replacement on both hips. The operation was less than 1 hour pr hip and I was walking as soon as I awoke from surgery. I was still having pain in my lower back, and Dr. Gullung recommended a spinal surgery, which after recovery, I was just about pain-free for the first time in 5 years!!

The surgeons, along with the physical therapy staff in Hoover, were professional and helped me to a full recovery.

Now at 68, I have been able to exercise with no pain and have gone from 203lbs to currently 171, 42 lbs loss!!!

Thank you to you and your staff!!

I came to Dr. Patrick Peavy in great pain, a victim of a “botched” TKR performed by a surgeon who was not affiliated with Ortho Alabama Spine and Sports. Dr. Peavy knew exactly what to do. He was kind, caring, professional and extremely well educated. He performed a successful TKR!!
I am a 76 year old grandmother who walks a minimum of one mile everyday. I can do this with NO PAIN!!!!!
Dr. Peavy not only saved my knee, he saved my life! I will be forever grateful to him!! Margaret Powell

I had my first(left) knee replacement on my 73rd birthday…and right knee done 6 months later, in 2023.

I could not have asked for a better doctor than Dr. Scott Orr. He is the best. He treats you like family, prays with you, and does fantastic work. When you have both knees done, you expect that one or the other will have some kind of problem. Nope! Both healed perfectly, rehab was great, and the care I got at St. Vincent’s East was great both times!

I highly recommend Dr. Scott Orr—the best! Thank you, Dr. Orr, for your compassion, your surgical skills, and most of all, for being a friend and part of the family!

After a difficult experience with another physician, Dr. Morris made me feel much more confident about my recovery. He was much more attentive to my concerns and spent sufficient time with me to answer all my questions and explain things so that I understood them. Working with him has made recovery much easier!

On Dec 11, 2024, while working as a gunsmith, I was test-firing an Ar-15 in 300 blackout. I had loaded 5 rounds in the magazine to test out a binary trigger. On the last round the reciever, bolt and barrel exploded in my hands. My right hand was badly injured and filled with a great deal od shrapnel. The shrapnel got everywhere on my body from my ankles to my neck. The worst injured parts were my right hand middle of my stomach, left knee, and right shoulder.

I saw Dr. Ingram for my hand. There was so much shrapnel in my pinky and ring finger that it hurt constantly and would not bend or flex completely. Dr. Ingram did surgery on my fingers and was able to remove 96% of the shrapnel embedded in the bones. After a little physical therapy, I was back to work and pain-free. You almost can't even see the surgical scars. He's an amazing doctor and I highly recommend him.

I had a prior fusion in my lower back and one doctor wouldn’t do anything, saying he was afraid of making it worse. Dr. Gullung told me he could fix it, and he did. The second surgery was because I stepped in a hole not long after surgery, and it messed up a disc, so he did decompression surgery. Dr. Gullung is a wonderful surgeon.

I saw Dr. Orr in July 2024 after having an MRI and determining the best procedure was total knee replacement. I had surgery in September, and I know God placed me in the hands of the best surgeon! I was told I would walk out of the surgery center that afternoon (which I thought was unbelievable) and start physical therapy within 3 days after surgery. My mind was blown! I will not say everything was roses because there is a day that you feel like you're dying, but the next day things get better, and then you start physical therapy, and every day is progress.

I used the physical therapy at OrthoAlabama and have nothing but great things to say about the staff there. My best advice is to go in with a positive attitude and know you can do whatever they suggest. I stopped using the walker in about a week. I had a cane after that, but I didn't handle the cane well. Dr. Orr also had a bike brought to my home (insurance must OK this), which helped with progress as well. I started taking the stairs up to physical therapy and down when I left. I graduated a little early and was quite proud of myself for that. It's been almost a year, and I walk perfectly normal. I have even started doing some yoga, which requires getting on my knees. I truly thought that would NEVER happen!

My experience with OrthoAlabama has always been great! I chose the place and have seen some of the very best doctors!

After several months of pain and discomfort, I went to see Dr. Mary Gilmer. X-ray showed a sizeable bone spur on my left Achilles. Surgery was scheduled for late January. Six months out from surgery and several weeks of therapy, I've made good progress; still having occasional minor pain, but considering my age, I'm pleased with my progress. Even able to get back on the golf course! I highly recommend Dr. Gilmer for any foot or ankle problems!!

I was very happy with the level of service provided. I received an X-ray & MRI the same day of my appointment. The was very nice because it limited the number of visits before diagnosing my injury. After the injury was identified, Dr. Marshall sent me to PT, which improved my injury by 98% at the time of my 6-week visit. I am now 100%.

I had babied my right knee for YEARS. It finally went out on me, could hardly walk. Needed a total replacement.
Dr. Peavy only does knee and hip replacements. He was wonderful. First week going to therapy was rough, 2nd week little easier. Got easier as time went on. 6 weeks worth of therapy. After the 2nd week, I didn’t need pain meds, so they let me drive.
Best decision I ever made to have surgery, wish I had done it years ago.
Dr. Peavy and Dr. Rob will take excellent care of you, make sure they talk and explain everything that will be done, and what to expect.
Like I said wish I had done it years ago. Oh, I forgot I had my surgery on February 4th, 2025. It's only been 5 months and I feel great. I’ll see him in a year!!!

Two years and three months ago, Dr. Gullung performed surgery on my backbone to relieve long-term pain, following a series of injections which failed to correct the problem of terrific pain caused by what was eventually diagnosed as spinal stenosis. I have enjoyed a sense of new freedom, completely pain-free since the surgery! He and his team are miracle workers in my opinion.

I had both total knees done by Dr Scott. Orr within 3 months of each other, and I couldn’t be happier. His post surgical pain management is amazing. I was both a floor nurse on an orthopedic floor and later an operating room nurse in orthopedics, and the early ambulation, pre operative information and preparation and the post op regimen really works. Now I’m 3 years out, and I can do almost anything without any pain.

I'm a nurse, and every step I take is a step toward helping others feel better, but when steps became a step with pain and swollen knees day after day, it was time to have something done.
My daughter knew of Dr. Orr and made me an appointment with him. This was the start of my healing process. The 400-mile commute has been worth it.
I highly recommend Dr. Scott Orr and his staff, from the front desk to the nurses and therapy team. He is a very personable and compassionate person, and makes you feel at ease. He gives you the opportunity to ask questions and takes time to answer your questions. He explains the test and the procedures he is doing. He is patient, attentive, and caring. Even though he has other patients, he made you feel like you were the only patient he had and never made you feel rushed. I have recommended him and the clinic, including the therapy team, to several others already. Keep up the good work!!

I’m a preschool teacher who slipped in the hall on a spilled water bottle. I landed hard on my left knee and heard it pop. An ambulance took me to the hospital & I waited for a doctor to take my case. The most fabulous doctor patched up my patella!! I am oh so thankful he was my surgeon.

I have had lower back pain since I hurt my back years ago. I've tried every gadget, back brace, pain pills, but none of them worked. All the doctors before just masked the pain with a trade off for pills daily. After starting treatment with Dr. Savage Jr., he has completely listened to what I had to say and gotten my pain back below manageable. A true professional doesn't happen often. I would 100% recommend anyone having lower back, tailbone, etc to give him a shot. I work in construction and don't have time to do physical therapy if you want to stay employed. He absolutely will go above and beyond. Just my opinion.

I could hardly walk; the pain was an 8 on a scale of 10. I was shoving 15 tons of rocks, and was not in pain till the next day. Waited about a week after ice/heat did not help. Called for an appointment with Dr. Goodman, he recommended an x-ray, then a CT scan after reviewing the x-ray. After reviewing both, he gave me a shot, and two days later pain was gone. Lasted 3 years. Great job, Dr. Goodman.

I wasn't looking forward to the knee replacement. But I can say after 2 months I am walking great and very glad that I had the procedure. You have to follow the directions and exercises as prescribed. I also, for the first 10 days, walked three times a day for ten minutes from one end of the house to the other. Yes, it hurt, but it becomes easier with each lap. My walker had wheels in the front and that made it easier. Physical Therapy, within their own facility, was absolutely GREAT. The therapist adjusted my work outs so that I got the best results. The whole process was much easier than I anticipated. I am having the right knee replaced after the first of the year, 9 months after my left knee.

I have played ultimate frisbee for 35 years. I play in a local league as well as on a competitive travel team in my age division. Prior to my injury, I played in 10 national championship tournaments, 4 world championship tournaments, 3 beach national championship tournaments, and one Pan-American Championship Tournament. In May of 2024 I tore my ACL during a practice just before our regional championship. I was crushed, wondering if this was the end of my playing days. However, Dr. Rogers did not look at me as a 52 year old who needed to slow down. He looked at me as an athlete and worked with me to develop a comeback plan. I prehabbed in the weeks leading up to my surgery and had the ACL replacement on July 11, 2024. Following the surgery, I worked really hard in PT, and Dr. Rogers was pleased with my progress. Through his help, we developed a training plan for returning for my first tournament post injury in April 2025. I was able to play in that tournament with a brace. We qualified for Nationals by winning our regional tournament in June 2025. One year and one week after my surgery, I played (and played well) in Nationals without a brace as our team finished 5th in the country. Three weeks later, my local league team won our end of season tournament. I caught the tournament winning throw with a diving catch in the end zone. I am so grateful to Dr. Rogers for his excellent work, and especially in how he respected me as an athlete.