“My surgery was absolutely life changing. Now I’m back to volunteering and keeping up with my grandchildren. I tell people considering knee replacement surgery to have it done sooner rather than later. It isn’t nearly as bad as everybody tells you, at least if it’s done robotically.”
– Donna Muhm
It’s hard to look forward to having a total knee replacement when your friends have told you the surgery and recovery can be quite painful. That’s what Spirit Lake resident Donna Muhm thought before she had both of her knees totally replaced last year. Fortunately, Donna did research of her own and learned robotic-assisted joint replacement surgeries resulted in less pain and even better outcomes than traditional “open” surgeries. She was even happier to learn orthopedic surgeons from Northwest Iowa Bone, Joint & Sports Surgeons performed robotically-assisted joint replacement surgeries right in Spirit Lake at Lakes Regional Healthcare. She said, “Dr. Rierson’s name came up right away. I couldn’t have been happier.”
Her results after surgery actually did make her happier. The first time Muhm got up to walk was the same day as her surgery. She then spent only two nights at the hospital before going home and having outpatient physical therapy appointments. “There’s no comparison to what my friends told me about their results to what I experienced,” said Muhm. “My friends who had surgery done non-robotically walked with a cane and walkers for weeks after surgery. I thought it was more comfortable and easier to walk without a cane, which I think is because of my therapists and the robotic surgery.”
Before surgery, Muhm was not able to do things she wanted. “I couldn’t participate fully in my volunteer work, which involves horses, and I couldn’t take my grandchildren on walks. I had to do a lot more sitting,” she said. “My surgery was absolutely life-changing. Now I’m back to volunteering and keeping up with my grandchildren. I tell people considering knee replacement surgery to have it done sooner rather than later. It isn’t nearly as bad as everybody tells you, at least if it’s done robotically.”
For more information about robotic surgery at Lakes Regional Healthcare, talk to your local health care provider or call 712-336-8768.
Orthopedics
VISIT PROVIDER:
Rierson, Chris – DO