Bronson Hosts Free Program on Hip Pain Relief

Years ago, hip problems meant a lifetime of pain and a drastically limited physical lifestyle.  Not anymore.  Just talk to Duane Knight.  Knight, a retired Battle Creek Police officer, is still working as an investigator for Calhoun County Prosecutor's office.  But Knight is also a competitor in Iron Man competitions, even after undergoing hip resurfacing surgery at Bronson Orthopedic Specialists in Battle Creek.

Iron Man is a combination of long-distance swimming, biking and running.  Knight says he was training for an Iron Man 2 1/2 years ago when he started experiencing hip pain that wouldn't go away.  That brought him to Dr. Joe Burkhardt at Bronson Orthopedic Specialists.   Knight had the surgery two years ago, took a year off, and he's right back at it, training for another Iron Man competition.

Knight says he had hip resurfacing surgery, stayed on night at the hospital, and had his life-style restricted for a week!   He went back to work and said he was back to normal in about six weeks.

Dr. Burkhardt says "The materials used, and the bearing surfaces today are so  much more resilient and resistant to wear than they used to be. The lifespan of a hip replacement is so much more than 15 or 20 years ago.   My hope today is that a person has one operation and that's all they need for a lifetime."

Dr. Burkhardt says the hip resurfacing procedure results in a joint that can be abused more than a traditional hip replacement.  That's good news for farmers, construction workers, and athletes like Duane Knight.

Battle Creek area residents are invited to learn about treatment options for hip pain coming up on October 30 during a free program titled Hip Pain Relief.  Dr. Joseph Burkhardt will discuss nonsurgical and surgical treatments, including hip resurfacing and anterior hip joint replacement.

The Wednesday, October 30 program is from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Bronson Battle Creek Outpatient Center, located at 300 North Ave. in Battle Creek.

Registration is required. To register visit bronsonhealth.com/classes or call (800) 451-6310. Any questions, please call Veronica Troutner-Baarson at (269) 341-6050.