Michelle Boner first came to OrthoIndy for a hip replacement with Dr. Edward Hellman (now retired). The experience left such a lasting, positive impression that when knee pain later began limiting her mobility, OrthoIndy was her first call.
Finding Another OrthoIndy Physician
After learning of Dr. Hellman’s retirement, Michelle was referred to OrthoIndy total joint replacement surgeon Dr. Patrick Millikan. The transition felt seamless, reinforcing her confidence in OrthoIndy’s team-based approach to care.
What had initially seemed like lingering discomfort connected to her prior hip issues turned out to be something more serious. Imaging revealed advanced osteoarthritis in Michelle’s right knee, with bone spurs and bone-on-bone contact.
“I didn’t know it was that bad,” recalled Michelle. “But it honestly made sense because I had experienced so much knee pain recently.”
Establishing a Treatment Plan
As a gospel singer who travels with a performance group, standing for extended periods is essential to Michelle’s passion and purpose. Too often, pain forced her to remain seated while the rest of her group stood to sing.
“With my knee pain, carrying a cane everywhere became part of my routine,” said Michelle. “Planning even simple outings required careful thought. I worried about getting stuck somewhere or not being able to keep up due to my limited mobility.”
From the start, Dr. Millikan and the OrthoIndy team focused on what was best for Michelle. She agreed with the thorough plan he outlined and underwent a total knee replacement in November 2025.
Therapy and Full Recovery
Living in a second-floor condo, one of Michelle’s other goals was to comfortably navigate stairs again. Because of this, her recovery plan began with two weeks of in-home physical therapy before transitioning to therapy at OrthoIndy.
Michelle committed fully to the process. “I had heard challenging joint replacement stories from people I knew, but that simply wasn’t the case with OrthoIndy,” said Michelle. “I stayed on schedule with therapy and diligently followed recovery rules from Dr. Millikan – I honestly believe this played a large part in my smooth recovery experience.”
Today, Michelle says she is feeling great. She is mobile again and able to do everyday things many people take for granted, like grocery shopping, attending church and moving through her life without constant planning or fear of pain.
Looking back, Michelle remains deeply thankful for the care she received.
“I think very highly of Dr. Millikan and the OrthoIndy team,” she said. “I had a great experience, and I’m so grateful to OrthoIndy for everything!”
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At OrthoIndy, it’s not just about providing orthopedic care, it’s about restoring lives. Learn how our team can get you back to what you love doing most at orthoindy.com.
