Medical tourism helped former Scottish dancing star battle osteoporosis

From Dancing on Scottish TV to Debilitating Hip Pains: How Hip Surgery Transformed Retired Dancer’s Life

When he felt debilitating hip pains, Leslie MacKenzie, a retired professional Scottish dancer, was told he’d have to wait for up to three years for surgery due to the country’s long wait times in hospitals. However, having decided to go the private surgery route, he can finally move pain-free again.

September 28, 2022.  Out of all injuries, professional dancers sustain, up to 50% of them are in the hips. At the same time, dancers (especially ballet) have increased chances of developing osteoporosis.

Leslie MacKenzie, a 63-year-old former professional dancer from North East Scotland, had to put his life on hold because of sudden hip pain and osteoporosis diagnosis, potentially brought on by his dancing career.

Danced for British royalty

Mr. MacKenzie had danced professionally for 33 years before retiring at the age of 40. Getting his big break at 18 in the BBC show “Songs of Scotland,” he went on to tour the United States, participating in other TV shows in Scotland, dancing in theatre as a ballet, jazz, and tap dancer, and doing projects around the world in Damascus, Geneva, Spain, Germany, Italy, Canada, and the US.

Throughout his long career, he even danced for former US president Bill Clinton, the UK’s new monarch King Charles III, Diana, Princess of Wales, and many other notable figures.

Long waiting times in the UK hospitals forced to put life on hold

In June 2019, Mr. MacKenzie started experiencing hip issues, and the pain was quickly progressing, going as far as making him resign from his part-time job.

“I have always been very positive in most things, especially health, having survived very aggressive cancer, Burkitt’s lymphoma, back in 2016. But debilitating hip pains prevented me from doing a lot of things. I was just frustrated that I could not achieve most of the daily chores, etc.,” he said.

Mr. Mackenzie sought medical help in Scotland, and it was confirmed that he had severe osteoporosis and wear and tear in both hips. Over 2,000 Scottish residents have been waiting for orthopedic surgeries for more than two years, so when he learned that he would have to wait up to three years for surgery at home, it was when Mr. MacKenzie started looking at his options about private clinics.

Following recommendations by his friend who had undergone hip replacement in Nordorthopaedics Clinic in Kaunas, Lithuania, Mr. Mackenzie decided to look up the Clinic. He talked with several former patients, and hearing their reviews on having an orthopedic surgery abroad, he made the arrangements for hip replacement surgery in Lithuania.

Now he feels like he can resume his old lifestyle once again. “Everything seems to be going in the right direction. I am feeling a lot better and walking a lot better,” Mr. MacKenzie added.

Summer Travel Tips for Seniors(Opens in a new browser tab)

ABOUT NORDORTHOPAEDICS

Nordorthopaedics is a private clinic in Kaunas, Lithuania, part of Nordclinic, offering high-quality services and focusing on foreign patients. It is equipped with modern diagnostic and surgical facilities. Medical professionals at the clinic speak fluent English and show personal attention to every patient. www.nordorthopaedics.com/en.

Exit mobile version