Joint replacement surgery at Beacon gives Notre Dame football fan a new lease on life

Rick Madlem cheering on Notre Dame.

A real Notre Dame football fan, Rick Madlem and his wife were able to attend the big game against Clemson last year. The only problem was the walk to reach their seats.

“The walk hurt, but I did it,” he said.

It was yet one more thing that was becoming a little too painful. The discomfort started about three years ago, just a little pain in Rick’s left knee when he was walking on the treadmill.

He figured it would get better on its own.

A couple years later, the pain had gotten worse, unfortunately. It was particularly noticeable at the downtown Mishawaka Riverwalk, where Rick would have to find every bench so he could sit down and rest his knee for a while. And while he didn’t cut back on activities like yard work, Rick was finding them more and more uncomfortable to do.

His primary care provider suggested he see Gregg Ebersole, MD, an orthopedic surgeon specializing in hip and knee procedures. Dr. Ebersole initially used a cortisone shot to alleviate Rick’s symptoms, but the effects only lasted a few days.

Dr. Gregg Ebersole, Beacon Medical Group orthopedic surgeon.

It was time to consider joint replacement.

“I recommend for patients to exhaust conservative management,” said Dr. Ebersole. “If they have a decrease in quality of life, limitations in activities of daily living and have more bad days than good, then they can consider a knee replacement.”

During a knee replacement, the surgeon removes and replaces damaged parts of the knee joint with metal and high-density plastic parts, which eases pain and improves the function of the knee. Newer knee replacements are expected to last 20 to 30 years.

Dr. Ebersole felt Rick would be a good candidate for robotically assisted surgery, an option only available from specially trained surgeons. Robotic-assisted surgery is less invasive than traditional surgery, and patients recover more quickly. Most importantly, joint replacement would help Rick regain mobility and live a full, active life.

Rick arrived at Memorial Hospital at 7:30 a.m. on the day of his surgery, and Dr. Ebersole performed the procedure. Rick was back home that evening and started physical therapy within a day or two.

Every step of the way, his care team explained everything so that he knew what to expect.

He couldn’t be more pleased with his care – and the outcome.

“I can’t say enough about the experience. I can go to the grocery store again with my wife. Before, the idea of walking over to the pharmacy area in the store was too painful. Now I don’t give it a second thought,” Rick said.

“It’s given me my life back.”

Let Beacon care for you

Learn more about the high-quality, expert-level care patients received from their initial appointment to their final follow-up from our Beacon Bone & Joint specialists. No matter where you hurt or if you have been injured, Beacon’s goal is to return you to maximum function with our convenient, coordinated care close to home.