For Marty Keating, staying busy has always been a way of life. After spending more than 40 years working in retail, she was used to being on her feet, helping customers, walking store floors and putting in long days that often added up to more than 15,000 steps. Outside of work, she finds joy in her garden, taking walks with her dog Molly and spending as much time as possible with her grandchildren. But over time, severe knee pain took the joy in these simple pleasures away.
“I’m pretty stubborn,” Marty said with a laugh. “I tried to ignore it as long as I could.”
At first, she managed her symptoms with cortisone injections and pushed through the discomfort. Like many people, she kept telling herself she could handle it a little longer, but eventually, the pain became impossible to ignore. “It got to the point where I couldn’t put weight on my knee anymore,” she said. “The last couple of weeks before surgery, I was using a wheelchair because the pain was so bad.”
The limitations affected every part of her life. She missed sporting events for her oldest grandson, and trips to the zoo and outings with her younger grandchildren became difficult. Even walking up and down a few steps felt overwhelming.
“I wasn’t able to do the things I loved anymore,” Marty said. “I couldn’t enjoy time with my family the way I wanted to.”
Fortunately, Marty already knew where she wanted to turn for help. Her relationship with Central Indiana Orthopedics stretched back years. Previously, she had undergone surgery for arthritis in her foot and shoulder surgery as a patient with CIO. Both experiences gave her confidence that she was in the right place.
“When it came time to have my knee looked at, I already knew where I wanted to go,” she said.
When Marty met hip and knee surgeon Dr. Ryan Jaggers, what stood out immediately was the way he listened. “He’s just amazing,” Marty said. “He’s very caring and very honest. I always felt like he truly cared about what my life was like and what I was going through.”
Together, they explored treatment options and continued conservative care until it was clear surgery was the best path forward. By the time imaging revealed the extent of the damage, Marty knew she was ready. “When the injections stopped working and I couldn’t walk anymore, it was time,” she said.
Marty underwent total knee replacement using Mako SmartRobotics™ technology. While she admits she was more focused on getting her life back than the technology itself, she believes it played an important role in her recovery. “Dr. Jaggers explained how it helps with precision and placement,” she said. “I trusted him completely. Looking back, I really feel like it helped me recover faster.”
Just two weeks after surgery, Marty experienced a moment she’ll never forget. “I was in physical therapy and realized I didn’t really need my walker anymore,” she said. “I set it aside and walked to the equipment on my own. I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, I can do this.”
That moment became a turning point. By her six-week follow-up appointment, her progress was so impressive that even Dr. Jaggers was surprised. “He told me I was healing like someone who was three months out from surgery,” Marty said. “I was doing everything they told me to do because I wanted to get back to living.”
Physical therapy became a key part of that success. Marty credits the CIO physical therapy team for helping her stay motivated while making sure she recovered the right way. “They were wonderful,” she said. “They encouraged me, corrected me when I needed it and helped me understand that there’s a process to healing. I felt like I’d known them forever.”
Throughout her experience, Marty was struck by how connected everyone at CIO seemed to be. From clinic visits and imaging to surgery and physical therapy, nearly everything she needed was available under one roof. “I don’t drive anymore, so having everything in one place was incredibly convenient,” she said. “My husband didn’t have to take me all over for appointments. It made the entire experience so much easier.”
But Marty says what she remembers most is the people. One particular interaction left a lasting impression. While waiting for imaging before her knee replacement, Marty spotted Dr. Steve Herbst, who had treated her foot years earlier. “He saw me sitting there, smiled and asked how I was doing,” she recalled. “It may seem like something small, but it meant so much that he remembered me. It just made my heart smile.”
That feeling of being known and cared for extended throughout her entire experience. “From the front desk to the nurses to the doctors, everybody was wonderful,” Marty said. “They all worked together, and they all genuinely cared.”
Today, just six months after surgery, Marty is back doing the things she loves most. She’s tending to her backyard fairy garden, filled with flowers, plants and spaces designed to attract butterflies and hummingbirds. She’s taking daily walks with Molly, her energetic corgi-border collie mix. Most importantly, she’s spending time with her grandchildren without constantly thinking about pain.
“I can do pretty much everything I want to do again,” she said. “I feel great.”
For Marty, the difference between life before and after surgery is impossible to overstate. “Before and after is totally different,” she said. “It’s night and day.”
When asked what she would tell someone who is putting off treatment because they’re nervous or unsure, her answer comes quickly. “Do it,” she said. “You spend years living with pain because you think it’s easier than dealing with surgery. But it’s so worth it afterward. The first time I stood up and my knee didn’t hurt anymore, I couldn’t believe it.”
Today, Marty feels like she has her life back. “I’m 65 years old, but I don’t feel 65,” she said. “I feel like I’m in my 30s. Dr. Jaggers and the team at CIO helped make me whole again.”
If knee pain is keeping you from enjoying the activities and people you love most, you don’t have to face it alone. At Central Indiana Orthopedics, our team is dedicated to helping patients find lasting relief and get back to the life they enjoy. To speak with our team or request an appointment, call 800-622-6575 or ciocenter.com/contact-us/.