For Brad Laconi, staying active has always been part of his identity. After practicing dentistry, which he has done since 1989, Brad enjoys spending his free time golfing, working out and keeping in good shape. But Brad’s greatest joy of all comes from being a grandpa — with three young granddaughters, he treasures every moment playing and keeping up with them. One of his favorite things was climbing up the playground slides and going down with them, and he loved getting down on the floor for board games. As his knee pain worsened, both activities became increasingly difficult.
Over the past several years, Brad’s left knee pain began to interfere with playtime and everyday activities. He had two prior surgeries on that knee more than 30 years ago, and the pain gradually returned. “My left knee hurt when I golfed or walked, and especially climbing a ladder,” he shared. Yard work and mowing became painful, and cleaning his gutters – something he always tried to do himself – left him in severe discomfort.
Like many people living with knee arthritis, Brad tried conservative treatments first. He used knee braces and received cortisone injections, but neither offered lasting relief. “They didn’t really alleviate the pain,” he explained. After dealing with arthritis pain for nearly four years, he knew it was time to pursue a long-term solution.
Before he could address his worsening knee, however, life took an unexpected turn. During a bike ride in Hilton Head Island, Brad suffered a full quadriceps tendon tear in his right leg — an injury that required immediate attention. On his return to Indiana, he was quickly seen at Central Indiana Orthopedics, where Dr. John Martin performed the repair surgery. “I was very pleased with the results,” Brad said. “The doctor, staff and Physical Therapy facility were awesome.”
The physical therapy team played a key role in his recovery — so much so that Brad says physical therapy helped keep him from becoming discouraged during the long process. About six weeks after surgery, he attended an Indy 500 race party on crutches, where someone shared their own quadriceps tear story — including a re-tear that occurred during physical therapy. “I was sick to my stomach,” Brad recalled. “I feared that outcome.” When he told his therapist, Courtney, she reassured him immediately: “I will not let that happen.” That moment made all the difference.
That positive experience shaped another important decision. Brad had originally planned to pursue his total knee replacement with another practice, but after witnessing Dr. Martin’s professionalism and the CIO team’s genuine care, he changed his mind. One moment stood out. A few days after surgery, Brad began experiencing bleeding through his bandage due to clotting issues. As he was walking into physical therapy, Heather — a CIO staff member — saw him in the parking lot and immediately escorted him straight to Dr. Martin’s office. The dressing was changed before therapy, and at his very next therapy appointment, Dr. Martin’s Physician Assistant was already waiting to check on him. “Very unexpected and beyond the normal response,” Brad said.
When it came time to discuss solutions for his knee, Brad and Dr. Martin reviewed all treatment options. With his arthritis progressing and affecting everyday life, a total knee replacement was the clear next step. Dr. Martin explained the benefits of Mako robotic‑arm assisted knee replacement, including added precision and improved alignment. His detailed explanation, patience and confidence helped Brad feel ready to move forward.
Even though he had heard “horror stories” about the first two weeks of total knee replacement recovery, Brad’s experience was far better than he expected. “I really had little pain or problems,” he shared. “The pain was manageable. I was expecting the first 2–4 weeks to be worse.” His advice for others? Do the required stretches, follow the care plan and attend physical therapy consistently.
Now about 10 weeks post‑surgery, Brad is progressing well, though he has recently struggled with some IT band soreness and tenderness around the bone beneath the implant. He’s working through stretching and recovery exercises — and despite the discomfort when walking, he was thrilled to golf pain‑free recently. “I’m really looking forward to returning to walking while golfing and playing with my grandkids,” he said. And in our opinion, that’s something to smile about.
Reflecting on his experience, Brad is confident he made the right decision choosing Central Indiana Orthopedics. “I would tell anyone who is questioning treatment for their knee to go forward and set up the surgery with Dr. Martin and his superior team.”
To read more patient success stories like Brad’s and learn more about Mako robotic-arm assisted surgery, visit ciocenter.com/services/robotic-assisted-hip-and-knee-replacement/.