After suffering from chronic knee pain for over 10 years, Patricia Heck finally had enough. Her knee pain was impacting her lifestyle, and she wasn’t enjoying gardening or long walks.

“One day I was carrying my laundry basket up the stairs, and my knee gave out,” Patricia says. That was it. She went to see Dr. Matthew Hummel, an affiliated orthopaedic surgeon with OrthoCincy Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine, who performs surgery at St. Elizabeth Healthcare.

Patricia is back on the treadmill and in her garden, with a restored quality of life.

And Patricia has advice for anyone else living with knee pain from osteoarthritis, “It was the best thing I ever did. Face your fear and do it. Recognize when you get over the hump, you’ll be so happy.”