With Grateful Patient, Harvey Kay

Over 8 years ago, Harvey Kay began noticing sharp pain in his knees and groin.  It started gradually but seemed to come out of nowhere. He saw a general doctor, but when they saw it was a hip issue, he was sent to Campbell Clinic. Because he was only 35, Kay hoped the issue was not serious enough for surgery but, once he was x-rayed, it was clear he had Femoroacetabular Impingement (FAI) or hip impingement. 

Kay recalls feeling surprised by the diagnosis because his pain was not located in his hip. “The doctors did a good job answering all of my questions and concerns.” They explained to him that the bone on the socket had been grinding the cartilage for a long time and that the only solution to completely relieve the pain would be a hip replacement. 

As a father with young kids, healing quickly was of utmost importance. Harvey booked surgery over the summer with Dr. Marcus Ford (Residency Class of 2017) and was told that the sooner he was home and walking, the better outcome he would have. Kay said, “It felt easy. I got there around 6:00 am, I was awake by 11:00 am, and home by 12:30 pm.” He walked immediately, then went to PT, and after 8 days he was back at work. Kay said he was stunned by how normal it felt so soon after surgery. 

Using pain as his guide, Kay knew when it was time to do his right hip and had a second hip replacement in 2024. After both surgeries he is so grateful to be pain free and more active. 

We asked Harvey some questions about his experience. See his responses below:

How has your surgery impacted your daily life and overall well-being?

I went from constant pain every time I walked or stood to no pain at all.  That is life changing. I can play with my kids more. I can jog for the first time. It feels like a new lease on life. Even sleeping was painful, so the pain was inescapable before.

Were there any moments during your care that stood out to you as particularly meaningful?

For me, it was knowing that I had support from so many people in the Campbell Clinic family including Dr. Norfleet Thompson (Residency Class of 2014) and Dr. David Spence (Residency Class of 2012). In general, having people you trust in medical fields makes a big difference to health and outcomes, and I am grateful for everyone who supported my surgery and recovery.

If you could speak to someone considering supporting our programs, what would you say to them?

We are so lucky to have a premier orthopaedic clinic in Memphis, TN. Campbell Clinic is an amazing resource for our community. Having an orthopaedic authority training new surgeons and conducting research for over 100 plus years is remarkable. Campbell Clinic is one of the reasons Memphis is so special and punches well above our weight.