Dr. Matthew Daniel Clayton, MD

This is going to be my last knee revision after going to so many different doctors. Dr.Clayton and I agreed on a realistic and approach on this revision. He and his staff are all about my well being and after care . So without a doubt this my family’s orthopedic doctor for life.

Running has been over for me for almost a year now, with 114,000 miles logged over a 54 year time span. During that time, I participated in over 500 road races with 4 Boston Marathon qualifying times under 2:50 (2:44 PR) and participation in three of them with a total of 19 total marathons run. The mile races, 5ks, 10ks and half marathons produced almost exclusively first place finishes in my age group with a few overall wins and some overall wins in the Masters' and Grandmasters' divisions. It was all good while it lasted, but as I look back at the damage which running does to the joints, I would have just walked and cycled all those years. Running is great for every organ system of the human machine, but the thin cartilage in the joints (which does not regenerate when lost due to a poor blood supply) takes a beating. I've got severe bone-on-bone articulation throughout the entire ball and socket joint in the L hip. The R hip is faring much better. Most of my running was done on hard asphalt. It's only been the last 10 years that I've had the luxury of running on soft, flat, level grass of the golf course fairways where we retired in the mountains of NE Alabama after a teaching career spanning 39 years in the states of Alabama and Georgia. On May 12, 2020, Dr. Matthew replaced my L hip. While he said that he didn’t recommend anymore running because of the trauma of pounding, I am now up to walking 4 miles per day and doing several activities in our gym upstairs, such as elliptical, recumbent cycling, rowing machine and weights. The hip replacement may last 20 years or longer. I'm likely to expire before it gives out. At almost 75, I have already lived out my 70 year warranty (3 score and 10). All my family members, except a 6 year younger sister, have all passed in their 50s and early 60s of heart attacks and strokes, so I've been blessed in spite of a negative genetic history. The running has no doubt increased my life span by preventing heart attacks and strokes. None of my family members exercised with the exception of my younger sister (Coral Springs, FL) who does some. I was very apprehensive about the hip replacement surgery, but I soon recognized that I had a truly great surgeon in Dr. Matthew Clayton of SportsMed in Huntsville, Alabama. About 50 raving reviews on him were all highly positive. He's a hip replacement specialist and a hip revision specialist. I knew that there was no need for me to seek out Nick Saban's doctor, or any other for that matter, who did his hip replacement in Birmingham and was an orthopedic surgeon only, not a hip replacement specialist as Dr. Clayton is. Going into the surgery my mind was at ease. The good doctor felt like I would do very well with the procedure, since I’m not overweight and very healthy. I was at peace that I had found the very best surgeon in the nation in Dr. Clayton. Since the surgery I have been completely pain free, and it feels so good to have finally gotten my life back after being in pain for so long. He told me that after the surgery, I would probably ask myself why I waited so long. It’s true that I wish I had let him do the surgery a couple of years earlier and not suffered needlessly in pain when there was no need to do so. I asked him how many hip replacement surgeries he had performed, and he said about 750 over the five years he has been doing them. Four months later, he’s probably done well over 1,000 as more and more candidates find out about his expertise in the field. Plain and simple, Dr. Matthew Clayton is the best kept secret among all the hip replacement specialists in the country. However, word is getting out about his good work in an accelerated fashion, and I’m glad.

At age 60 I was VERY apprehensive about my much needed hip replacement. Dr Clayton and his wonderful staff made it a complete non-issue.

I had major surgery on my knee in 1996 and it recently started "acting funny" - It was catching and feeling like the patella was going to dislocate. There was also a very tender spot - tender enough that when he grabbed it I wanted to kick him in the head. He wanted to try physical therapy. After two week of PT, I went back and saw his NP. The NP was very sure I had a torn meniscus. After a discussion with the therapist we decided to go ahead with the MRI. The MRI was negative for a tear but did show arthritis and a good deal of "runners knee." The catching is from loose cartilage on the underside of the patella. I really needed a plan and after a 30 to 45 minute conversation he revealed that the didn't want to scope the knee because the risk outweighed the potential reward. I asked him why I had such severe focal tenderness, this is what he said "Quit touching it." That is not a diagnosis and I was offended and felt like he was talking down to me. I still don't feel like I have any answers. His thought was that it was a very messed up knee. I am 50. I wish something could be done to help this joint. We did a cortisone shot which backfired and I have been regressing ever since. Still in PT but I don't feel like it is getting better. Even if it gets worse I am not sure I would go see Dr. Clayton again. He was nice I just felt like he didn't want to bother with me.

Dr. Clayton can give you your life back. After 9 months of limping and two other doctors, I finally met Dr. Clayton. He told me I needed a hip replacement, and to quit smoking. I told him I couldn't stop! I had smoked two packs a day for 40 years and couldn't stop smoking, it was impossible. He told me that I had no choice. If I wanted to be his patient, I had to quit. I tried to bully him, tried to guilt him, and even tried a tear or two. He stood firm. He said the best chance I had at a surgery without infection was to quit smoking. Pain can be a great motivator. I finally agreed. I started taking Chantix and was shocked that it actually worked. After three weeks, I was ready to go tobacco-free. I had my surgery without a hint of infection or trouble. At six weeks post-op, I have no limp and no pain. Also, I am still tobacco-free and looking forward to a long life. Thank you Dr. Clayton!

Dr. Clayton is a marvel, he was able to take a long overdue hip impairment and reconstruct it as if there was never an issue. His skill and knowledge are excellent, surgery and recovery could not have gone better. I would highly recommend him.

I met with Dr. Clayton due to progressive pain in my hip. Dr. Clayton performed the initial hip replacement after the discomfort interfered with my ability to live and work with any normalcy. 5 months later Dr. Clayton replaced my opposite hip without complications and progressed to a functional life. Dr. Clayton is supportive from the initial consult to post-op follow up. Words can't express the gratitude I have for the care, professionalism and gift that Dr. Clayton and his ancillary staff has provided me throughout the entire process. I would highly recommend that anyone seeking relief due to an orthopedic condition, request to be referred to Dr. Clayton.

Bilat hip replacement anterior approach. I am a healthcare provider, so I obiviously have high expectations. Dr Clayton explained what he could accomplish and set goals for he and I along with my imput. The term gifted would seem to be an understatement for his level of professionalism and skill that he masters. My initial hips were as bad as they could get. Thank you Dr Clayton for giving my life back and leaving the disabiling pain in the past.

After suffering through a poorly replaced hip ball I went to Dr. Clayton and he replaced the original repair with a complete replacement which completely resolved the problems and pains associated with the original replacement.

Another orthopedic surgeon in town performed a total hip replacement on me. 6 weeks later I was left with constant pain, an implant that had moved down into my femur, a limp and one leg that was over 1" too short! Being specially trained in Reconstructive surgery for hips and knees, Dr. Clayton was an answer to a prayer! He was compassionate to the issues I was dealing with, recognized my anxiety and fear of another surgery so soon. He took time to explain every aspect of another surgery - pros and cons - went over my x-rays and clearly answered all of my questions. It was obvious throughout my surgical experience that this is a physician who truly cares about the quality of his care and the outcomes for his patients lives. This was the total OPPOSITE of what I experienced with the first surgeon! 5 weeks post-op I am walking well, pain free and can see walking and biking in my near future again - without pain. Thank you Dr. Clayton!!

I am so thankful and refreshed that he was my dr. Informative, kind, gentle...... Best doctor ever!!!!!