'Best Thing Ever': Return to an Active Lifestyle with Partial Knee Replacement
Kirkland resident Tracy Kosa started experiencing pain in both of her knees in her early 30s. Though she was young, she dismissed the pain as a side-effect of inactivity throughout her 20s while she pursued several ambitious post-graduate degrees.
But even after getting into shape with a personal trainer by way of yoga, weightlifting and running, her pain persisted. When Kosa took a break from exercise, she still experienced excruciating knee pain that required daily doses of anti-inflammatory medication just to cope with her discomfort.
That's when Kosa decided it was time to consult her primary care doctor at a different health system, but she was met with the familiar feedback that she was simply too young to be experiencing anything serious.
After an unsuccessful visit, Kosa continued to work out with a personal trainer and focused on building knee strength – but her knee pain didn't improve. Then one day during a workout session, Kosa's knee finally gave out and her personal trainer insisted she see a specialist.
A series of diagnostic tests and X-rays eventually confirmed what her previous providers failed to diagnose – the cartilage beneath her kneecap had completely deteriorated, which is a common injury among younger, athletic individuals.
Kosa was soon referred to EvergreenHealth's Dr. Camille Clinton, a board certified, fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine and knee injuries, and she describes it as the "best thing ever." Finally, Kosa felt like she was being listened to and understood.
"During my first appointment, Dr. Clinton walked me through how knees work and the reason why physicians in the past likely missed my underlying knee issues. She was empathetic, professional and incredibly supportive. She spent time with me discussing the various treatment options that aligned with my preferences and needs," Kosa shared.
Together, Kosa and Dr. Clinton determined a care plan, which included injections, a laparoscopy procedure to remove bone spurs, physical therapy and lifestyle changes, like reducing high-impact sports and adding insoles to her shoes.
Kosa followed this care plan for four years before she and Dr. Clinton decided that it was time to pursue a partial knee replacement of her right knee in 2019. The surgery went so well that she decided to pursue a partial replacement for her other knee in 2021.
"The COVID-19 pandemic made things more challenging, and I had a lot of questions for Dr. Clinton before we pursued surgery. She provided me with every resource I needed to ease my concerns and she and her team were always available for questions by phone and email. We discussed pain management strategies in detail, so I knew what to expect and what options were available."
By the day of her surgery, Kosa was ready and optimistic about what life would be without pain. Surgery was a success and Kosa describes a positive experience with her post-operative team, as well. "Not only were providers calling to check in on me regularly, I also knew who I could reach out to with any questions as I recovered."
Today, Kosa is continuing her daily (modified) workouts without pain.
"Every single person at EvergreenHealth has been supportive, empathic and kind – which means a lot, especially during the pandemic. I'm so happy to be living without knee pain, but the only sad thing is that I truly miss the amazing people on my care team."
