ACL Reconstruction

Two New Knees, One New Life

Chiranjeevi.Govindharajulu@korcomptenz.com — Mon, 12 May 2025 11:05:04 +0000

Two New Knees, One New Life

Chiranjeevi.Go… Mon, 05/12/2025 - 16:35

John Wittman, 73, of Carmel, Indiana, had always been active, enjoying hiking, playing golf and other hobbies. But slowly, over time, the pain in his knees began to get worse and he wasn’t able to enjoy all those activities.

"In July 2023, I joined a hiking group from the U.S. to walk part of the Maximillian Trail in Germany," says John. "The last day of the 10-day, 100-mile trek was brutal and I was slowing everyone down. I decided that I needed to replace my knees and get back to normal."

A lifelong friend of John's had her knee replaced at Shelborne Knee Center and highly recommended both the practice and her surgeon, Rodney Benner, MD. John met with Dr. Benner, who told him his knees were "bone-on-bone," which was causing all his pain. Dr. Benner recommended both knees be replaced.

John opted to have his knees replaced one at a time, rather than in a single surgery, which is an option for some patients. Dr. Benner replaced John’s right knee in December 2023, and then his right knee in October 2024.

"Dr. Benner did a fabulous job, and the knee replacements went smoothly," says John. "I spent the night at the hospital after each surgery and was released the following day. I was out of bed and walking with a walker in the halls of the hospital before I was released."

A Commitment to Physical Therapy

John's physical therapist, Bill Claussen, provided a detailed plan and daily exercises for John to do at home. As part of his rehabilitation, the practice sent a continuous passive motion (CPM) machine home with John. The CPM is a motorized device that gently bends the knee joint back and forth to aid with recovery following surgery. Using the machine helps restore the knee's range of motion to its pre-treatment level and prevent scarring that can result in a loss of joint mobility.

"The CPM machine was a 24/7 commitment for a week," says John. "The only time I was allowed out of it was to eat, exercise and make trips to the bathroom. Rehab and recovery require a commitment from the patient and the caregiver. It's important to do the exercises and follow the detailed instructions provided by Shelbourne Knee Center."

Three months after his second knee replacement, John is playing pickleball, riding his bike, playing golf and basically doing whatever he feels comfortable doing. "I'm getting stronger every day and returning to normal. What a wonderful feeling!"

John is thankful to Dr. Benner and the team at Shelbourne Knee Center for his recovery. "They were all amazing," he says. "I would highly recommend anyone who needs knee replacement reach out to them. The physical therapy department did a remarkable job during the rehab process."

Double Knee Replacement: Stepping Into a Life Without Pain

Chiranjeevi.Govindharajulu@korcomptenz.com — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 07:32:35 +0000

Double Knee Replacement: Stepping Into a Life Without Pain

Chiranjeevi.Go… Mon, 03/24/2025 - 13:02

For many people, knee pain is just a part of aging. But for some, the pain becomes debilitating and impacts every aspect of life.

This was true for Gary Kidwell, 69, of Dallas, Texas, who found himself at the crossroads of a major decision—one that would not only change his health, but also his life.

Gary struggled with knee pain from osteoarthritis for about five years. He saw an orthopedist who performed a scope, but that did nothing to alleviate the pain. The next step was a series of steroid shots, again no relief.

"I have always been very active, and I was determined to not allow knee pain to sideline me," says Gary. "But wrenching pain was no match for my strong will. As my workout routine slipped, my weight swelled. I felt lethargic and enslaved to pain."

'Knee Pain Was Ruining My Life'

An avid golfer, Gary's knee pain limited his ability to play. On a trip to Las Vegas, Gary could not walk the course and his swing was limited because of his inability to follow through. "I literally could not keep up with the group," he says, "because my knee would lock on me. Knee pain was ruling—and ruining—my life."

After a series of discussions with orthopedic surgeon Rodney Benner, MD, at Shelbourne Knee Center (SKC), Gary learned that his knees were severely damaged, and the only way to truly regain mobility was through bilateral knee replacement surgery, a procedure in which both knees are replaced at the same time.

In May 2019, Gary had the surgery, which was performed under general anesthesia and took several hours. Dr. Benner explained that bilateral knee replacement is more complex than replacing just one knee, but that doing both at the same time has the advantage of requiring only one recovery period, which can ultimately be more efficient for patients in his situation.

Gary was scheduled to be in the hospital two nights but was able to go home after a one-night stay. "The care I had from SKC was outstanding," he says. "Everyone was clearly invested in helping me have a great outcome."

Following surgery, SKC gave Gary a custom rehabilitation plan that he followed religiously. "Everyone warned me about rehab," he says, "but I didn't find it to be so bad. Actually, I enjoyed the challenge and the success of measurable progress. Dr. Benner's team gave me a very specific plan to follow. I did the routines at home and went to Shelbourne Knee Center for a few sessions."

Better Knee Replacement Results

Gary added that a friend of his had a knee replacement the same week as he did and, of course, they compared our results. "Both the speed and the extent of my recovery was more than twice his,"says Gary, "and I had both knees replaced! When he called me on week six, I was on the golf course. I credit Dr. Benner, my physical therapist, Bill Claussen, and a uniquely crafted rehab plan."

Following surgery, Gary shed 10 pounds because he was able to move without pain. "I now have energy, and I even lowered my golf handicap," he says. "Recently, I was going through airport security and almost forgot to tell TSA that I needed the full body scan. That's when I knew that the new knees have fully become a part of me."

The remarkable outcome of his knee replacements has made him a walking testimonial for SKC."Several friends of mine have become SKC patients because of my success story."

Two New Knees: Adventures Ahead!

Chiranjeevi.Govindharajulu@korcomptenz.com — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 07:28:53 +0000

Two New Knees: Adventures Ahead!

Chiranjeevi.Go… Mon, 03/24/2025 - 12:58

Teresa Fowler began having trouble with her knees about 10 years ago. An active person, she loved walking, hiking, gardening and biking.

When she visited with her orthopedist, she was told she was too young for knee replacement and that the only option was to modify her lifestyle.

"I'm an energetic music teacher who is up and around my classroom all day long," says Teresa. "Although I tried to maintain my activity, I got to a point in July 2023, when I was 51, where I knew I wouldn't even be able to do my job if I didn't get something done."

After a lot of research, Teresa gave Shelbourne Knee Center a call. She was impressed by the success rate that she read about online and the positive patient reviews.

"I met with Dr. Benner and learned that I was a candidate for having both knees replaced," says Teresa. "He didn't see any reason I should have to live in pain just because I was younger than the normal knee replacement patient. I felt heard and understood and was so grateful to have a next step."

Preparing for Surgery

Prior to surgery, Teresa started physical therapy and did it faithfully. She saw some improvement and thought maybe she could put off the surgery. "But as I got busier, my pain increased, so I scheduled my first knee replacement for December 2023."

Understandably, Teresa was nervous, but the surgery-prep team did a great job helping her relax and settle in. "When I woke from surgery, the pain was intense, but the team was on top of it. I am so thankful for their knowledge and understanding."

A few hours after her surgery, Teresa learned that her mother-in-law, who lived several hours away, was not doing well. Doctors had called in her family. With hopes that he would make it in time to see her, Teresa's husband left the hospital knowing her daughters would arrive shortly.

"Before my girls arrived, I got a call from my husband letting me know that his mom had passed away," says Teresa. "My daughters arrived a little later. When I shared the sad news with them, they crawled into the hospital bed as best as they could and we cried together. This is how Dr. Benner found me when he came to check on me. He and his team were so compassionate and kind, checking on me physically and also making sure we had what we needed as we processed our loss."

Teresa says her care team, including Dr. Benner, physical therapist Alana Gillenwater, PT, DPT, and the nurses who took care of her in the hospital, were all very encouraging. "I went home with detailed instructions and followed them to the letter," says Teresa. "My family was incredible during my rehab time, serving as cheerleaders, coaches and caregivers all wrapped into one. I did my at-home exercises and continued with regular physical therapy checkups. Alana knew I wanted to be hiking, biking, actively teaching and gardening again, and set up a plan to get me there."

Ready for a Second Surgery

The first knee replacement brought so much relief that Teresa wanted to have the second done as soon as possible. She met all of her six-month goals by month five, and she was able to schedule her second knee replacement for June 2024.

While her biggest hurdle with the first knee replacement was building back strength, the biggest obstacle with the second knee replacement was range of motion. "My care team was on top of it, adapting my rehab to get me over the hurdles. I felt stronger earlier with my second knee. I think my entire body was better off, due to the rehab regimen given to me."

Teresa worked with her physical therapist through the summer and was able to return to her classroom at the beginning of the school year; just eight weeks postop.

Adventures Ahead!

Today, Teresa feels like a new woman. She is walking, lifting weights, biking and teaching like she did several years ago. Her energy levels are high, her mind is clear and her outlook is positive.

"Being pain free is such a blessing," she says. "I can move around my classroom easily and move with my students. I can zoom around the school building quickly. I am so excited for this summer. My husband and I are traveling abroad, something I could not have done without these two surgeries and the work we did for rehab."

Teresa says she highly recommends Shelbourne Knee Center to anyone she talks to who is dealing with knee pain. "I couldn’t be more pleased," she says. "I’m in my mid-50s and feel better than I have in years. I've got my life back and there are a lot of adventures ahead!"