Before his knee replacements Jerry McGinn, age 70, was limited to sitting in a chair and walking only very short distances; the pain was, in his words, crippling. Now he can climb stairs and walk miles—and he’s pain free!

Jerry was used to lots of exercise, he is well known for his sports connections. Jerry started the successful South Lincoln Track and Field Club which set records for winning national competitions. He also helped start the Cornhusker Games in Nebraska.   But the pain in his knees sidelined him. He watched the track club and Cornhusker athletes from a chair.     To the right Jerry demonstrates some simple exercises he does daily to improve flexibility in his "new" knee.

Right Knee
He had his right knee replaced in mid-March, and this “true green” Irishman remembers, “It was the first St. Patrick’s Day I didn't celebrate! I had to talk to my Irish buddies on the phone and they came to see me in my hospital room.”

But, he says it was worth it! In fact, things went so well that in mid-July he had the other knee replaced.

By early September, he was already reporting feeling more like he had 20-30 years ago. He was already climbing stairs and walking miles. He knows that by the first of the New Year he will be walking, riding his bike and back on the field coaching the athletes.

Jerry tells anyone who asks that there is a lot of pain when the knee joint is first replaced, but by the end of the second week that pain was gone for good. Jerry was committed to doing his rehabilitation exercises and knows that helped him recover so well.

Dr. David Clare, orthopaedic surgeon, demonstrates a knee joint and discusses what happens when a knee joint is causing pain.