How Maggie Avoided Knee Surgery with PRP and Shockwave Therapy
“I never thought I’d be able to garden again without pain. Now I’m not only gardening, but I’m hiking with my grandchildren and enjoying life without the constant reminder of my knee issues.” – Maggie Johnson, 58, Middleton, WI
At 58, Maggie Johnson faced a crossroads that many active adults encounter – continuing to live with debilitating knee pain or undergoing knee replacement surgery. After years of trying conventional treatments with diminishing results, Maggie’s orthopedic surgeon told her that knee replacement was her “next step” if she wanted relief from her moderate to severe osteoarthritis.
But Maggie wasn’t ready for major surgery, with its lengthy recovery and potential complications. That’s when she discovered regenerative medicine at Serenity Health Care Center in Waukesha, WI. Her story represents the journey that many Wisconsin residents take from pain and limitation to renewed mobility and freedom.
Maggie’s Journey: From Active Life to Painful Limitations
For most of her life, Maggie had been remarkably active. As the Human Resources Director for a mid-size manufacturing company in Madison, she balanced a busy career with an active personal life that included tennis, hiking, and her passion – extensive gardening at her Middleton home.
“My garden was my sanctuary,” Maggie recalls. “After a busy day at work, I’d spend hours tending to my flowers and vegetables. It was my form of meditation and stress relief.”
But around age 53, Maggie began noticing increasing pain in her right knee. At first, it was just stiffness in the morning or after sitting through long meetings. She dismissed it as normal aging. Over time, however, the pain became more persistent and began limiting her activities.
“I remember the day I realized how bad it had gotten,” Maggie shares. “I was on a weekend hike with friends at Devil’s Lake State Park, and I simply couldn’t keep up. I had to turn back early, and I was in tears not just from the pain but from the realization that I was losing my active lifestyle.”
The Conventional Treatment Carousel
Like many patients, Maggie first tried the standard treatment protocol for knee osteoarthritis:
- Over-the-counter pain medications: Initially, ibuprofen and naproxen provided relief, but she needed increasing doses, which concerned her due to potential side effects.
- Physical therapy: Six weeks of intensive PT helped with mobility but plateaued without resolving the underlying pain.
- Prescription NSAIDs: These provided moderate relief but caused stomach issues, and Maggie worried about the long-term effects.
- Cortisone injections: Her first injection provided significant relief for about three months, but subsequent injections were less effective and shorter-lasting.
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