Thrive - Winter 2017 - 6


1 SURGERY,

2 NEW KNEES
Local teacher has both knees replaced at Lake Regional

K

risti McGrew, a reading
teacher at School of the Osage
Heritage Elementary, had an
unusual summer project.
"While school was out, my summer project was to get new knees so I
can keep up with all of the kids," says
McGrew, who has served School of the
Osage for 20 years. "Anytime I was on
my legs for an extended period, they
would get so sore and achy."

Early Signs of Knee Trouble
McGrew's knee troubles began with a
torn ACL when she was 25. She had
surgery, but as often happens with ACL

tears, the knee eventually developed
osteoarthritis. As the cartilage in her
knee wore away, McGrew experienced
increasing pain and loss of movement.
Then last December, her left knee
began to have similar problems. That's
when she began to wonder if a woman
in her 50s could be a candidate for knee
replacement surgery.
There are pros and cons to replacing
joints in midlife, says Jeff Jones, D.O.,
a board-certified orthopedic surgeon at
Lake Regional Orthopedics.
"In the past, hip and knee replacements were performed only on patients
ages 65 and older," he says. "That's

because the new joint won't last forever-in general, 20 years is a good
expectation. But many people don't
want to wait until they are 65. Many
decide, 'I want good quality years now,
and if needed, I'll deal with a second
surgery later.'"
That made sense to McGrew.
"For quality of life, I decided to go
ahead," she says.

Two Replacements,
One Summer
Hoping to use up just one summer,
McGrew was happy to learn she could
have both knees replaced at once.
And "at once" meant exactly that-
Dr. Jones asked his fellow Lake Regional
board-certified Orthopedic Surgeon Rick
Walker, D.O., to operate alongside him,
with each of them replacing a knee. The
main benefit of this approach, Dr. Jones
says, is a shorter anesthesia time.
"That's a little safer for the patient,"
he says.
To get ready for her surgery,
McGrew attended Lake Regional's
Total Joint Camp. This two-hour class
helps patients know what to expect
before, during and after total hip or
total knee replacement surgery. The
camp includes tips from the orthopedic
surgeons, as well as from physical and

Lake Regional Physical Therapist
Jennifer Minich helps Kristi McGrew
rehabilitate her knees.

6

www.lakeregional.com
http://www.lakeregional.com
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Thrive - Winter 2017
