In October 2020, Kristin LaFlech sustained injuries in a car accident on her way to work as a teacher at Munster High School. She required a Level 3 neck fusion and during rehabilitation, realized her right knee was in bad shape.
“The pain was really intense,” Kristin said.
Normally a very active person, exercise is a priority in her life. Unfortunately, Kristin’s injuries prevented her from taking spin classes, swimming, and coaching the high school’s softball team. She was understandably determined to get back to where she was before the accident.
“I knew a knee replacement was the only way I was going to get there,” she said.
Kristin was referred to John Joseph Pomponi, DO, FAAOS, FAAHKS, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon, who determined that she was a candidate for Methodist’s Same-Day Total Joint Replacement program.
According to Dr. Pomponi, joint replacements are not as involved or as painful as they once were…and Kristin can attest to that.
“The pain before surgery was much more intense than after,” Kristin said. “I immediately trusted the joint and went home later the same day of surgery.”
“I was very fortunate to be referred to Dr. Pomponi,” Kristin said. “He carefully explained my options in the beginning and has been straightforward throughout the entire process.”
According to Dr. Pomponi, improved anesthesia, shorter operative times and improved post-operative pain management have combined to help make Methodist’s Same-Day Total Joint Replacement program a success.
“There is a great support team in place for outpatient knee, hip and shoulder replacement,” Dr. Pomponi said. “Surgery is usually done in the morning and takes an hour or two. Patients stay in the recovery area for a couple of hours and get two rounds of physical therapy. If their pain is well controlled, they go home the same day.”
“The staff and everything were so great at Methodist,” Kristin said. “It just made everything better. And going home that same day was the icing on the cake.”
John Joseph Pomponi, MD