When Sam Torrence, 72, an active retiree and avid pickleball player began having knee pain, he worried about his future on the court. Along with his wife, Betsy, Sam was initially drawn to pickleball as a good workout and a way to socialize with friends and neighbors. He eventually took his game to the next level with competitive play but was fighting through his knee pain from osteoarthritis all along the way.
Sam’s knee pain progressed to the point where rest and conservative measures could not relieve his symptoms, and he even began waking during the night with pain. After consulting with David Doherty, Jr., MD, Memorial Hermann-affiliated orthopedic surgeon, Sam knew it was time for total-knee replacement surgery. He says he would have delayed surgery if he could, but the pain was keeping him from doing what he loved. Coincidentally, this all happened around the same time he secured a coveted lottery spot to compete in the US Open Pickleball Championships in Florida.
Having the opportunity to compete on the national stage was a dream come true, but Sam thought he would have to stay home instead. Years before, Sam underwent another joint replacement with a lengthy recovery and he assumed this would be similar, leaving him without time to prepare and compete in the tournament. Fortunately, he was wrong. Dr. Doherty brought him up to speed on the latest advancements in orthopedic surgery techniques and developed a plan to get Sam pickleball-ready.
Sam was a great candidate for robotic-assisted knee replacement surgery. Dr. Doherty explains that this innovative procedure is more precise than earlier techniques and may result in less pain and faster recovery. In addition, today’s robotic-assisted surgical procedure does not rely on cement that was once used to secure the joint implant to the patient’s existing bone. Instead, ultra-precise incisions are made, and a specialized bonding material is inserted that allows the bone to grow into the implant.
“Dr. Doherty worked with me to plan the rehab I needed to be ready to compete,” Sam said. “We timed my surgery for me to be able to play, knowing the kind of rehab I needed and when I needed to be on the court. We set the surgery date, and everything went according to plan.”
Instead of spending three nights in the hospital as he did years earlier with his other joint replacement, Sam was home the same day. Dr. Doherty administered a preoperative pain block before surgery and followed up with numbing and anti-inflammatory medication delivered directly to the knee, instead of narcotics. This newer pain-management protocol allowed Sam to feel more comfortable, and he was able to begin physical therapy at Memorial Hermann | Rockets Sports Medicine Institute sooner than he ever imagined.
“Within two weeks I was walking and doing things out of the house. Within six weeks, I was on the court, and within two months I was getting into games. And two weeks before the US Open, I was fully active in everything about pickleball and I made it,” said Sam.
At Memorial Hermann, we understand that each patient is unique, and we work together to find the best treatment plan to get things moving forward. For some, this involves non-invasive or minimally invasive pain-management strategies, while others can benefit from a joint replacement. Our goal is to blend a proven record of orthopedic experience with a treatment plan that truly fits each patient’s needs and lifestyle.
Sam is grateful for Dr. Doherty’s focus on finding a way to achieve the things that are important to him. “He really engages with you on what is important and what your priorities are,” Sam said. “He makes the time to understand you, and that gives you all the confidence.”