After years of dairy farming alongside her husband, Lori Moret of Boscobel began experiencing knee pain that could no longer be ignored.
“I don’t let much slow me down,” Lori says. “Even when I became bowlegged from years of squatting down to milk, I stayed active.”
It was persistent and worsening knee pain that prompted Moret to consider surgery.
“I knew something was really wrong when the pain started waking me up at night,” she says. “My knee would lock up and it sounded like a branch breaking whenever I popped it back into place.”
The chronic knee pain and poor sleep were the push Lori needed to pursue a surgery consultation with the orthopedics team at Gundersen Boscobel Area Hospital and Clinics. After being evaluated and having an MRI, it was discovered that Lori’s knee was bone on bone.
“The thought of having surgery and being laid up and off work was scary,” she says. “But if I had to have knee surgery, I knew it had to be with Dr. Riley in Boscobel.”
Gundersen Orthopedic surgeons now have access to advanced technology designed to help surgeons plan and perform joint replacement surgery with a greater degree of accuracy compared to traditional methods.
“It’s comforting to know that Dr. Riley brings the option for robotic-assisted surgery to our small-town hospital – which I already trust and feel confident in,” Lori says.
Orthopedic surgeon Edward Riley, MD, performed Lori’s knee surgery in Boscobel using the CORI Surgical System on a Friday morning, and by that afternoon, she was up and walking. The following Monday, she started physical therapy in Boscobel three days a week.
“The CORI Surgical System enables incredibly precise placement of total knee components based on each individual’s particular anatomy and ligament tension,” explains Dr. Riley. “First, the system allows the creation of a virtual 3-D model of the patient’s knee. Then, the patient’s ligament tension is measured. Combining these two pieces of information creates a powerful tool that allows me to ‘do the operation’ on the screen, making ever finer adjustments, until the knee is just right for each patient. Finally, the robotic-assisted handheld device helps ensure that the actual knee replacement is implanted in the best position for each person, based on their unique characteristics.”
Now more than six months after her surgery, Lori says her experience in Boscobel was a 10 out of 10.
“When people think about orthopedic surgery, they don’t often think of Boscobel. I’m on a mission to change that,” Lori says.
Knowing that she could get the same level of care in Boscobel without the hassle of traveling to a larger facility where people weren’t familiar with her was a big win for Lori.
“At Gundersen Boscobel, I wasn’t just a patient: I was a person. I felt comfortable, respected and totally prepared for surgery day and the weeks that would follow,” she says.
Lori also credits Gundersen Boscobel’s rehab team for her smooth and speedy recovery. Physical therapy wasn’t easy, but Lori knew it was key to regaining her strength and range of motion. She says she felt blessed to work with physical therapist Robyn Moritz and physical therapist assistant Hannah Cornell, who were always prepared, supportive and engaged in her journey.
“These two always had my recovery at the forefront and explained things each step of the way,” Lori says. “They listened to me, pushed me and made physical therapy enjoyable and fun.”
Lori can’t underestimate the value that she and her family place on having top-notch healthcare close to home.
“I would highly recommend Gundersen Boscobel to anyone in need of orthopedic surgery based on my personal experience, and I wouldn’t hesitate to call upon Gundersen Boscobel for any need I might have in the future. Dr. Riley was amazing and the personalized care that I was given each step of the way provided me with the confidence to get back to full strength.”
If you’re ready to get back to the things you love, call (608) 375-6266 to schedule your orthopedic consultation.