After decades of playing sports, Matt’s knees had taken a serious hit. By his late 60s, years of physical activity had led to debilitating pain that affected his daily life. But Matt wasn’t ready to accept this as part of getting older. Instead, he and the expert team at HonorHealth Orthopedics took action to restore his mobility.
From pain to possibility
Matt tried everything to ease his knee pain — exercise, physical therapy, even alternative treatments — but nothing worked. When the pain became unbearable, his wife urged him to see a specialist. That’s when he met Bertrand Kaper, MD.
"Dr. Kaper didn’t just look at my knees, he looked at me as a whole person, considering my goals and what I wanted to achieve," Matt says. After a thorough evaluation, Dr. Kaper recommended knee replacement surgery. Though Matt was initially hesitant, he knew it was the only way to keep living the active life he loved.
Surgery, recovery and reaching new heights
Matt’s first knee replacement went smoothly, but he needed time to mentally prepare for the second. “The first surgery went very well, but I wasn’t quite ready for the second,” Matt admits. However, when the time came, he was prepared. Six months after his second knee surgery, Matt was hiking the Grand Canyon — 15 miles and 11,000 feet of elevation — without pain.
“I set the goal to hike the Grand Canyon six months after my surgery. Everyone thought it was aggressive, but I did it. No issues at all,” Matt beams. His success came down to preparation, comprehensive care and support from top-quality orthopedic doctors, hard work during recovery and a solid commitment to physical therapy.
Life after surgery: Full of yeses
Now fully recovered, Matt is living his best life. “I can do everything I want to do — hike, bike, even sail in Hawaii,” he says. “There’s really nothing holding me back. Well, except for my jumping ability — but I’m okay with that.”
He also jokes that he’s become the “new yes man” in his marriage. “I used to say no to walks or other activities. Now I say yes to everything. It feels amazing to be so active again.”
Matt’s journey proves that with the right team, expert care, determination and mindset, you can overcome pain and reclaim your life. “If you’re considering knee surgery, don’t wait,” Matt advises. “The technology and team at HonorHealth were incredible and can really help change your life.”
Related articles
Massage your way to peak athletic performance
Want to bounce back faster from your workouts and enhance your performance? Although often associated with relaxation, you might be thinking, "How can massage therapy help take me to the next level?"
Restoring muscle strength through clinical trial
For more than a decade, Thomas suffered from an autoimmune disease known as polymyositis that severely weakened major muscles in his arms and legs. With help from medication in a clinical trial, he was able to gain back muscle strength.
Secrets to aging well
Age is just a number. Joby Mathews, MD, with HonorHealth Integrative Medicine, shares expert tips on how you can stay in control over your physical and emotional well-being as you become older.