At age 68, Gail Norris of Fairbury, Illinois, had been dealing with knee pain for nearly a decade.
Several years ago, she underwent knee arthroscopy to have damaged cartilage removed.
“I was told they had to take a lot of cartilage from the anterior portion of my right knee and that eventually I may need a total knee replacement,” Gail said. “Over the years it had just become more painful – especially at night – and swollen.”
When she turned to orthopedic surgeonDr. Brett KelleratOSF HealthCare Medical Group – College Avenue, the pain and deterioration of her knee joint from advanced osteoarthritis had caused Gail to walk with a limp.
“Before knee replacement, Gail had tried limiting her activity, underwent physical therapy, and endured anti-inflammatory and pain medications, in addition to joint injections,” Dr. Keller said.
In late February this year, Dr. Keller performed total knee arthroplasty atOSF HealthCare St. Joseph Medical Centerusing navigation, which uses a CT scan to improve accuracy and surgical outcomes.
Pleased with the outcome
Today, Gail, who works in human resources at Illinois State University, said her knee feels good. “I would say it’s not like 100 percent natural that I don’t notice it, but it’s getting better all the time,” she said.
But best of all, she can enjoy swimming, walking with her grandchildren and gardening without the discomfort of joint pain.
“And my walk feels natural and normal,” she said. “I received good care, and my experience was exactly as they described.”
Last Updated: April 22, 2022