Anne Urlie was used to living a full and active life. As a social worker at Auburn Regional Medical Center (ARMC), Urlie spent most of her day on her feet, walking throughout the hospital, helping patients and their families. In her spare time, she was an avid walker and enjoyed keeping up a brisk pace as she logged 15 or more miles a week.

But Urlie's active schedule slowed after she developed arthritis in her knees following an injury.

"My knees were very swollen and painful," Urlie says. "Even though I took medications for the pain and inflammation, I was so uncomfortable that I had to slow my pace down considerably at work and give up walking. It was very frustrating for me. I didn't feel my age, but my body did."

Time to Take Action
Urlie says she knew she had to do something when the pain became so severe that it woke her up at night.

"I didn't just go to ARMC because I worked there," she says. "I did some research about knee replacement procedures and wondered if I might be a candidate for one. I found out that Dr. Moore performs partial knee replacement procedures." Milan Shannon Moore, M.D., is an orthopaedic surgeon at ARMC.

Dr. Moore evaluated Urlie's knees and said partial knee replacement surgery was a good option for her because her arthritis was confined to specific areas in her knees. Once she met with Dr. Moore, Urlie says she didn't think twice about where to have her surgery.

"I have absolute confidence in Dr. Moore and other doctors at ARMC," she says. "I work with patients here every day and see how well they're treated."

Getting Back in the Game
In March 2007, Dr. Moore performed Urlie's surgery. He replaced only the most damaged areas of her knees with partial knee replacement joints and preserved the healthy portions of her knees. Since this procedure is less invasive than total knee replacement procedures, Urlie recovered quickly. She was back at work and able to start walking around her neighborhood again in a few weeks.

"My life is much better," Urlie says. "I feel more vital, more like myself now. I tell people they shouldn't wait until the pain in their knees becomes disabling and they need total replacement surgery before going to see a doctor. Partial knee replacement procedures are a great option for some patients because they'll heal and can get back on their feet faster."

Get Back on Your Feet
To find a joint replacement surgeon at ARMC, please call the Direct Doctors^SM Plus Physician Referral Service at 1-800-370-8640.

202 North Division St., Auburn, WA 98001 (253) 833-7711, FAX: (253) 939-2376