These days, life is the bee’s knees for Dan Heinritz.
That’s because after years of living with debilitating knee pain, Heinritz found relief when he underwent successful robotic-assisted knee replacement surgery with Dr. David Liebelt and the team at ThedaCare Medical Center-Orthopedic, Spine and Pain.
An athlete in his younger days and a physical education teacher throughout his career, Heinritz stayed in shape himself while educating high school students on how to do the same.
In his youth, he played several contact sports, including football, basketball, and baseball. As a teacher, he developed a passion for adventure education. He led students through activities including pole climbing, belaying, zip lining, and ropes courses. He also worked additional jobs over the summer, painting and officiating sports.
Years of physical activity stressed his joints, particularly his knees.
“The pain in my knees got to the point where I finally decided, I’ve got to just do the surgery,” Heinritz said. “I asked myself, ‘why walk around on knees that are killing you?’ There were a lot of things I was trying to do through the pain. My knees were actually grinding. They were bone on bone. I needed relief.”
Taking a Toll
Heinritz decided it was time to act when his knee pain impacted his ability to walk, bike, and travel, which are activities he enjoys doing with his wife, Jill. Being limited changed his life.
He tried cortisone injections. The shots proved ineffective long term. He had an osteotomy, a bone-cutting procedure designed to realign and reshape the bones and joints. That, too, didn’t relieve his symptoms long term. Finally, Heinritz, 70, underwent his first of two knee replacement procedures.
The first surgery was a success, then his second knee began to ache.
“When you do the first knee, you also wear out the second one because you’re compensating,” he said. “When my second knee began giving me problems, I knew it was time to discuss knee surgery again.”
Access to Innovation
For his second knee replacement, Heinritz chose ThedaCare Medical Center-Orthopedic, Spine and Pain. He specifically sought a surgeon specialized in robotic-assisted surgery. That surgeon was Dr. Liebelt, a fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon.
Dr. Liebelt explained the knee replacement procedure.
“We replace the worn-out area with a synthetic material that’s shaped like the cartilage was when it was healthy,” he said. “The synthetic materials are typically made from metal, plastic, or ceramic.”
Dr. Liebelt’s team scheduled Heinritz’s surgery in July of 2023, two weeks after his initial consult.
“We pride ourselves on getting patients like Dan in as soon as possible and creating a treatment plan that works for them,” Dr. Liebelt said. “Their recovery is dependent on that surgery being performed at their convenience, so we strive to get the surgery done when the patient needs it done.”
Robotic-Assisted Surgery
Heinritz’s surgery, with the ROSA robotic knee system, exceeded his expectations.
“It’s clean and efficient, and the recovery was quick,” Heinritz said. “It seemed less invasive to me, which I appreciate.”
When a patient undergoes a robotic-assisted procedure, it’s still the surgeon doing the surgery, Dr. Liebelt explained.
“The robot is providing more information to surgeons to help carry out a surgery that they already perform themselves,” Dr. Liebelt said. “It’s just another tool to help surgeons perform a better knee replacement. If a surgeon is fellowship trained with experience in utilizing the latest technologies, it can help improve a patient’s outcome.”
Recovery and Beyond
After his first knee replacement years ago, Heinritz stayed overnight in the hospital. For his second surgery, he left by noon on the same day. He returned to work after six weeks.
Now nearly 18 months out from his second knee replacement, Heinritz and his wife walk every day and bike several times a week. They can also visit their kids and grandkids with ease. The couple recently traveled to Alaska and Montana, walking and hiking countless miles.
“It was true test of one year out,” Heinritz said of the trip. “It was easy. I was ready for it.”
Dan Heinritz is pain-free after successful robotic-assisted knee replacement surgery. He and wife, Jill, are enjoying hiking again in places like Alaska and Montana, without the debilitating knee pain.
Advice to Others
For those contemplating a knee replacement, Heinritz offers some wisdom.
“If you’re in severe pain, don’t wait too long,” he said. “I waited way too long the first time. My leg wouldn’t even bend anymore.”
It’s gratifying to see Heinritz return to doing what he loves, Dr. Liebelt said.
“The goals of joint replacement are restoring function and alleviating pain,” he said. “When a surgery is successful and a patient like Dan is back to the things that makes him happy, that’s the ultimate reward for a surgeon.”
Taking Your First Step
ThedaCare Medical Center-Orthopedic, Spine and Pain offers coordinated care in one facility. The team of specialists works together to ensure patients don’t have to give up or give in on the activities that are most important to them.
Care teams provide a full range of orthopedic care including total joint replacement, sports medicine, fracture care, general orthopedics, rehabilitation and pain management – delivered with options ranging from non-surgical treatments to complex surgeries.
For more information about ThedaCare’s knee surgery program and surgical options, visit thedacare.org/services/orthopedics or call 920-831-5050.
