Wimbledon resident Derrick Lee has a lot going on — riding his motorcycle, spending time with his family, hunting, fishing, running and working. So when pain threatened to slow him down, he knew it was time to make a change. With the help of Jamestown Regional Medical Center’s (JRMC) orthopedic surgeon Dr. Roxanne Keene and a same-day total knee replacement, Derrick is back in action.
When Derrick noticed pain in his knee, he assumed it was just the wear and tear of a busy, hardworking life. But the discomfort kept getting worse.
“It had gotten pretty bad. I remember standing in the bleachers watching my son at prom — my knee gave out so badly I almost fell,” Derrick said. “By then, my knee was bone-on-bone, but I still waited two years before considering surgery.”
Like many people, Derrick delayed treatment. He had heard “horror stories” of long, painful recoveries after joint replacement. Meanwhile, the pain began to affect every part of his daily life — he struggled to get on his motorcycle, his daily runs turned into shortened walks, even his sleep was suffering.
“I wasn’t sleeping anymore, and my pain was keeping my wife up too. One morning at work, I finally called my wife and said, ‘You have got to make me an appointment,’” remembered Derrick.
The decision marked a turning point. In April, Derrick met with orthopedic physician assistant Pat Walter and Dr. Keene in the JRMC Specialty Clinic. The pair reviewed Derrick’s x-rays and recommended outpatient knee replacement with Dr. Keene. The option sounded perfect to Derrick, who disliked hospital stays.
Within 19 days of the initial visit — on April 24 — Derrick was prepped and ready for surgery.
“That morning, I was a little nervous,” Derrick admitted. “But everyone at JRMC was friendly and made me feel comfortable. I had received other procedures at JRMC, so I knew I could trust the care.”
Derrick’s recovery was better than he ever imagined.
“The day after my knee replacement, we hosted a family birthday party for my son, and I was able to walk around and talk to people,” said Derrick.
Within five days, Derrick was able to take a two-mile walk. At two weeks, he was driving again. By week four, he was back on his motorcycle, riding 60 miles. Now, he is even more active than before the surgery.
“I’ve been running again; now at lunch I usually run about two and a half miles,” Derrick explained. “I was even able to walk the Running of the Pink 5K in June — which I couldn’t do in 2024 because of the pain.”
Derrick credits his success to JRMC’s orthopedic and rehabilitation teams.
“My physical therapist, Kayla Willer, kept me challenged and motivated through the process. Pat, Dr. Keene and the whole team made me feel confident and supported,” he said.
Now, Derrick encourages others not to wait as long as he did.
“I don’t know why I waited so long. If I need my other knee replaced, I won’t hesitate,” Derrick encouraged. “Don’t be afraid. Do the hard work — it’s worth it.”
Derrick is living proof that a same-day knee replacement can get people back on their feet and better than ever — back to doing what they love.
To learn more about orthopedics and same-day knee replacements at JRMC, call (701) 952-4878.
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