Patient Success Story: Adriana

How Ortho RI Biologics Gave a Patient Hope for an Active Life

To overcome the pain of an old ankle injury, 43-year-old personal trainer and athlete Adriana turned to a new, innovative treatment at Ortho Rhode Island.

Adriana’s injury trouble started at age 25, when she broke her right ankle. The fracture was repaired with pins and a rod, but during a Spartan race 15 years later, one of the pins came loose. In the ensuing surgery her tibia broke, and the result was serious arthritis.

“I went to a doctor and he told me I would never run again,” she said. “I almost started crying.”

“Mobility was lousy, and a lot of times I would limp because of the arthritis pain,” Adriana said. “I had to take it week by week, and it was depressing because I’m an active person.”

Adriana’s situation felt hopeless, until she discovered Ortho RI Biologics and Dr. Charlotte Moriarty, a sports medicine primary care specialist. “I did research on my own and found Dr. Moriarty. She did three injections over three weeks. Around six weeks I started getting mobility back, and one day it just stopped hurting.”

These injections were platelet-rich plasma, or PRP, a state-of-the-art biologic medicine. PRP is a concentration of platelets and growth factors from a patient’s own blood or bone marrow. These are injected to the site of an injury to induce the release of growth factors, stimulate the repair process, and speed healing.

Even better for Adriana, the PRP injections were straightforward procedures. “Dr. Moriarty explained what she was doing with the machine, and gave information for post-injection. I have recommended it to my friends. It’s one of the only things that has helped me heal."

And while the treatment itself had a powerful effect, Adriana’s experience as an Ortho RI Biologics patient also made a big impact. “My favorite thing about the office is you don’t feel rushed. In the healthcare system, a lot of times you don’t feel heard and you need to advocate for yourself. [At Ortho RI Biologics] everyone is pleasant, and I felt like they just got it and wanted to help me.”

"I have recommended it to my friends. It’s one of the only things that has helped me heal.”

“Dr. Moriarty is an awesome doctor,” Adriana continued, elaborating on what made her time at Ortho RI Biologics special. “I’ve been to a lot of different doctors and they say, ‘just stop doing it.’ I felt like Dr. Moriarty educated me on Biologics, and I had such a good experience all around. By far she’s been the best orthopedic doctor I’ve been to. Her personality, her knowledge, her patience listening to me and not rushing me.”

And now, thanks to Ortho RI Biologics, Adriana can experience the most rewarding part of her recovery: returning to the activities she’s passionate about.

“It was a game changer and has been such a big win, especially with how bad my arthritis is in my ankle. I can run again, play soccer, jump, and do all of the things my arthritis was preventing me from doing all this time,” Adriana said. “I believe in Biologics and would recommend it to anyone.”

Visit the Ortho RI Biologics page to learn more or schedule a consultation, and read more about Dr. Moriarty.