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."