Sheila King used a walker to climb into her car as she left the hospital, but she didn’t need it again after that. Soon, the 71-year-old Louisville resident was back to her usual activities at her local community center, which included line dancing. The right knee that had once given her so much trouble performed flawlessly every step of the way.
“After my surgery, I was line dancing, and they all got up to clap for me,” King recalls. She’s yet another example of the transformative power of knee replacement surgery at the Norton Orthopedic Institute, whose surgeons perform thousands of joint replacements each year for patients struggling with pain and limitation. That was certainly the case for King, whose knee issue began as a nuisance but ultimately left her barely able to walk.
At first, King noticed that her right foot was beginning to twist outward. “It didn’t hurt at all, but it made it difficult to walk,” she says. She lived with the inconvenience for years—until one day, heading to church, she was left hobbling and barely able to walk on her own. King made an appointment with Dr. Cyna Khalily, an orthopedic surgeon with Norton Orthopedic Institute, who suggested a total knee replacement.
Restoring movement, reducing pain
There’s a reason more people in Louisville and Southern Indiana choose Norton Orthopedic Institute when they’re ready for knee replacement surgery: the facility is recognized as a Center of Excellence in knee replacement surgery because it stays abreast of rapidly developing knee replacement advances. Surgeons at Norton are leaders in their field and employ the latest technology to provide patients with a more natural-feeling knee and a faster recovery.
The pain felt by knee replacement candidates usually comes from arthritis or another condition, wearing away the bone and cartilage at the bottom of the thigh bone, top of the shin and possibly the back of the kneecap. By removing the damaged area and replacing it with a new joint made mostly of metal and high-grade plastics, Norton surgeons can restore the ability to move while dramatically reducing pain levels.
Minimally invasive tools and techniques can precisely position the new joint to match a patient’s unique anatomy, achieving a more natural feeling in the new knee. Norton surgeons also use 3D modeling and robotics to better match the replacement knee with the patient. All of that precision saves soft tissue within the knee, helping patients recover faster and wean off pain medication sooner.
It’s a life-changing procedure for many patients, given that most replacement knees last 20 years or more. But initially, King was still reluctant. She asked about gel injections, which weren’t an option in her particular case. King prayed about it, asked friends about it, reconsidered, and returned to see Dr. Khalily. In May of 2023, King underwent a total knee replacement at Norton. Her dancing days weren’t behind her yet.
Preparation can speed recovery
While King spent one night in the hospital, some knee replacement patients can go home the same day. According to physicians, preparing for knee replacement surgery is essential because it speeds up recovery and can help the new knee last longer. Daily exercises leading up to surgery can strengthen muscles and give you a head start on your post-surgical rehabilitation.
Once she was home following the procedure, King says she never needed the help of a walker or cane. She walked on the treadmill and took part in physical therapy, often at a little gym near her apartment. A recent follow-up appointment showed that the surgery had done its job, and everything looked great. King still has plenty of line dances ahead of her.
“Dr. Khalily told me I don’t have to come back for four years,” King says.
While King has told everyone about how good her experience was with Norton Orthopedic Institute, she has a special place in her heart for her surgeon. “I tell everybody if they need a new knee or hip, go see Dr. Khalily,” she says. I just love him.”
For more information on Norton Orthopedic Institute, call (502)559-5500 or visit https://nortonhealthcare.com/services-and-conditions/orthopedics/.
