Sue’s Knee Surgery Experience
“The process at Rush was amazing. They were very organized – my surgery was at 8:30a.m., and I was home on the couch by 2:30p.m.”
Putting off the inevitable
Knee problems ran in Sue’s family, and she was no exception. She struggled day to day, despite a long history with orthopedic doctors, arthroscopic surgeries, and injections. These regular treatments weren’t working, leaving her frustrated and in pain. Hiking in national parks was a cherished family activity, but Sue was struggling to keep up with her husband and son.
“They would take off, and I’d be like, ‘Yeah, I can’t keep up with you guys anymore!’ It was really impacting the way I wanted to live.”
Her usual surgeon had previously assured her she’d know when it was time for total knee replacement. The turning point came during a visit to Boston. Sue found herself barely able to navigate the city; even standing became an ordeal.
“It was frustrating and painful and put me over the edge. I was like, ‘All right, I’m ready – I must get this done.’”
She required total knee replacement surgery in both knees, a procedure her usual surgeon didn’t perform. Fortunately, her husband’s company offered Carrum Health, a benefit that provided coverage for knee replacement surgeries by top surgeons nationwide.
“They gave me a list of doctors at Rush University in Chicago. I sent those names to my surgeon and asked which ones he preferred. He said that he recommended all of them, ‘But if I had to choose, I’d choose Dr. Nam,’ which is who I went with.”
Sue had many questions about the process, but Carrum Health, as part of their standard service, provided her with a dedicated care specialist who answered them all and seamlessly connected her with Rush University Medical Center.
“Today, I’m back to hiking. I can go for a three-mile walk without any pain. We had a graduation party for my son, and I was on my feet all day. In the past, it would take me two or three days to recover from something like that, but after the surgery I was fine the next day. It’s just nice to be able to do things and not have to worry about the recovery.”
