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."