Staying active had always been second nature to Shelly Brown. It was how she lived her life and stayed connected to the things she loved. But everything began to shift around her 50th birthday.
“I used to be constantly moving, walking the neighborhood, going up and down stairs, even dancing in the kitchen,” said Shelly. “But then my knees started acting up. At first, it was just annoying, but eventually, the pain got so bad I could hardly walk.”
Knee pain that held her back
Now 61, Shelly spent over a decade battling chronic knee pain caused by arthritis. As the condition worsened, both knees deteriorated to bone-on-bone contact, complicated by floating bone fragments. Everyday tasks became painful obstacles, and simple joys like walking her dog or enjoying nature trails became impossible.
“I took ibuprofen every single day for ten years just to function,” said Shelly. “At that point, I knew something had to change.”
Determined to find the best care possible, she started researching knee replacement surgeons, and one name that kept appearing was OrthoIndy orthopedic surgeon Dr. Patrick Millikan. “His reviews were incredible, and the results people talked about really stood out. I felt like I had found the right place,” said Shelly.
Finding a joint replacement expert
That research turned out to be life-changing. After her first consultation with Dr. Millikan, Shelly felt reassured and hopeful for the first time in years.
“I was really sad and scared at first, just knowing that a knee replacement was likely in my future,” said Shelly. “But Dr. Millikan was so encouraging. He told me it wasn’t going to be as bad as I imagined, and he helped me see it as a new beginning instead of an end.”
Shelly’s care plan was clear and well thought out. She decided to undergo knee replacements one year apart to allow ample time for recovery: the left knee in May 2023 and the right in May 2024. After each surgery, she committed to three months of physical therapy at OrthoIndy.
As her strength returned, so did her confidence. “I remember the day I realized, ‘I can do this.’ After that, I was all in,” Shelly recalled. “By the end of rehab, I was able to bend my knee beyond the 120-degree target, which was a big win for me.”
Recovery and pain-free living
Now, after completing both surgeries and her rehab programs, Shelly is living pain-free and medication-free for the first time in years.
“No more ibuprofen. No more limping. It’s honestly like the knee pain never happened. I’m walking my dog again, climbing stairs without even thinking about it, power walking, dancing around my kitchen – just living my life,” said Shelly.
Reflecting on her journey, Shelly is quick to praise both Dr. Millikan and the entire OrthoIndy team. “From the front desk to the surgery room to physical therapy, everyone treated me with compassion and respect. I never felt like a number; I felt like they truly cared about me as a person,” said Shelly.
Her advice for others facing similar challenges? “Do your research, choose a surgeon you trust, and when it’s time – follow every instruction your doctor and physical therapist give you. It makes all the difference, and you’re going to do well!”
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Schedule an appointment with our team at OrthoIndy and get back to what you love doing most. Call us at 317.802.2000.
