lcmh.com 5 Living life without knee pain: One patient’s story For Todd Fontenot, of Moss Bluff, who has spent a long career in the industrial industry, dealing with severe knee pain put a strain on his lifestyle. That’s where he found himself in 2020—with severe swelling in his right knee, which eventually led him to the office of Alan Hinton, MD. “I couldn’t take it anymore,” Fontenot recalls. “I had to do something soon. I didn’t want to wait until I couldn’t walk anymore.” Dr. Hinton discussed Fontenot’s options with him, and before surgery was on the table, Fontenot opted to receive steroid injections in his knee. However, both he and Dr. Hinton knew that, due to arthritis in his knee, surgery might be the only long-term relief for Fontenot. After several years of injections, surgery was scheduled in the spring of this year. At that time, the orthopedic specialists at Lake Charles Memorial Health System were gearing up to use a new tool for knee replacements. This new technology allowed surgeons to be more precise than with the traditional knee replacement techniques. Fontenot’s surgery was the inaugural procedure with the VELYS™ Robotic-Assisted Technology. “I was able to get up and walk, with some assistance, after surgery and go home the same day,” Fontenot explains. By the second week of recovery, he was back to his normal routine of walking in his neighborhood, and a few short weeks later, he could walk up steps. While every patient is different, Fontenot shares his experience to encourage those who are experiencing knee pain to do something about it, as soon as the pain begins to impact everyday life. Because of his proactive approach, he was able to regain a range of motion and restore his quality of life. He looks forward to continuing his recovery and moving through life— without knee pain. What are the benefits of using robotic-assisted technology? Primarily, this technology can gather useful, detailed information about your knee during the surgical procedure, helping your surgeon provide a more tailored implant and fit. This can lead to a greater range of motion, less pain and a faster recovery time. Important safety information As with any medical treatment, individual results may vary. The performance of knee replacements depends on age, weight, activity level and other factors. There are potential risks, and recovery takes time. People with conditions that limit rehabilitation should not undergo this surgery. Only an orthopedic surgeon can determine if knee replacement surgery is an option for you. Ready to get started? Visit lcmh.com/knee to take our joint pain assessment and learn more. Kipp Cryar, MD Alan Hinton, MD James Jackson, DO Barry Henry, MD
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