Getting Back to Normal

By Jaime Vance Hayes

Retired teacher Suzanne McLaurin of Dillon has always been accustomed to an active lifestyle - from enjoying sporting events and playing a round of golf to spending time with her five grandchildren. Over the last couple of years, knee pain began to put a damper on Suzanne’s lifestyle.

The pain was constant. It would keep Suzanne up at night, and then during the day, she had to ice her knee and rest frequently.

“I tried braces and over-the-counter medications, but neither offered any relief,” said Suzanne. “Eventually, it became difficult for me to climb stairs and get in and out of my car.”

After dealing with the increasing pain for months, she made an appointment with Dr. Ardalan Sayan of McLeod Orthopaedics Dillon. “I had heard great things about him and hoped he could help me.”

Her first impression of Dr. Sayan lived up to her expectations. His bedside manner, which Suzanne describes as impeccable, immediately instilled trust and confidence in his care.

“Suzanne presented with deep pain in the front and inside of her knee that diminished her quality of life,” said Dr. Sayan. “X-rays confirmed my suspicion that she was suffering from rheumatoid arthritis.”

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune and inflammatory disorder that occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks its own body tissues, most often in the joints. Pain, swelling and stiffness in the joints are the most common symptoms.

“As rheumatoid arthritis progresses in a patient, swelling can begin to cause damage to cartilage, leading to extensive bone damage,” explained Dr. Sayan.

To lessen the severity of her pain, Suzanne received several intermittent steroid injections in her knee. This approach worked to relieve her pain temporarily but was not a permanent solution. Despite these efforts, her pain gradually worsened.

“My goal was to alleviate Suzanne’s knee pain and restore her quality of life,” said Dr. Sayan. “Since other treatments were unsuccessful, surgery was the best long-term solution.”

Suzanne underwent a total left knee arthroplasty, or a total knee replacement, in May 2022.

During the procedure, damaged parts of the bone were removed and replaced with implants.

“Joint replacement surgery has revolutionized the way people who have painful, non-functional joints go about their lives in terms of alleviating pain while restoring mobility and function of the joint,” said Dr. Sayan.

Total knee replacement is the most commonly performed joint replacement procedure. A highly successful procedure, the majority of total knee replacements function 10 years or more past surgery.

Soon after Suzanne’s surgery, a physical therapist arrived to help her start walking the halls. “I could not believe how quickly I was back on my feet, just hours after a knee replacement, and that I was able to go home the same day.

“My entire experience was wonderful,   from the physician practice to the operating room to the hospital floor. McLeod Health Dillon has everything we need here in our community, so there is no need to travel elsewhere,” Suzanne continued.

Suzanne completed three weeks of in-home and outpatient physical therapy with McLeod Rehabilitation in Dillon following her surgery.

With each day of therapy, Suzanne noticed improved strength and mobility in her knee. Now, she walks a couple of miles several times a week, enjoys rounds of golf, and most importantly, plays in the yard with her grandchildren pain-free.

“We are very fortunate to have such a skilled and compassionate surgeon like Dr. Sayan here in our community,” Suzanne added. “I was amazed at how intently he listened to me and guided me through every step of my healing process. I am incredibly grateful for his care.”