After working as a carpenter for years, Larry Brooks, 57, of Sullivan, Mo., was left with bad knees and eventually bad hips, forcing him to retire early and go on disability. He was also dealing with some excess weight that only seemed to make his knee and hip pain worse.
“When my hip went out, I couldn’t tie my shoes or put on my socks. I could only reach so far down my leg,” said Brooks. “Unfortunately, I learned that my BMI was too high, preventing me from getting approved for joint replacement surgery.”
An elevated body mass index, or BMI, is associated with an increased risk of postoperative complications after total hip or total knee replacement surgery, including wound complications and risk of infection. Additionally, the depth of soft tissue can make implanting or positioning a new joint more difficult.
“My knees and hips were so bad that I couldn’t exercise or do simple daily chores to help lose the weight. I knew I needed to find a solution, and my last hope was weight loss surgery,” said Brooks.
Brooks consulted with his insurance company to find an in-network bariatric surgeon, and was directed to Dr. Jaroslaw Michalik at Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital. He was thrilled to have an option close to home, which meant he would not have to rely on others to drive him long distances.
Brooks met with Dr. Michalik and learned he qualified for bariatric surgery. He started the pre-surgery program in the spring of 2023 and spent the next six months in the program learning about proper nutrition and what to expect post-surgery.
“The prep program really helped me adjust my diet and lifestyle by shifting my entire mindset,” said Brooks. “My dietician taught me things about food that I never learned growing up. I honestly believe the nutrition program is just as important as the surgery itself.”
In September 2023, Brooks successfully underwent a gastric sleeve surgery with Dr. Michalik at Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital. With this procedure, more than half of the stomach is removed, including the part of the stomach that produces the hunger-inducing hormone, ghrelin. Patients feel full more quickly and consequently consume less food.
“Gastric sleeve has a metabolic effect, signaling the body to reset itself to losing weight versus retaining it,” said Dr. Michalik. “Patients also have the energy to be more active and make better food choices. And in Larry’s case, our hope was that his losing this excess weight and reducing his BMI would help him qualify for joint replacement surgery.”
Brooks was discharged home the next day with orders to maintain a liquid diet before transitioning to solid foods. He remained diligent with his eating and dropped a significant amount of weight over the next few months.
“I’m grateful to Dr. Michalik and the bariatric program, which kickstarted this life change. It’s taught me so much,” said Brooks. “Every little thing I do can affect my weight, so I have to be mindful about my choices every single day, reading labels and thinking about my meals ahead of time. It’s a continuous process, but it’s been working for me.”
Then, in late 2023, Brooks met with Dr. Paul Frewin, an orthopedic surgeon at Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital, to see if he qualified for joint replacement surgery. His X-rays indicated he would need total knee and total hip replacement surgery for both knees and both hips. However, the surgeries would have to be done separately to allow him time to recover properly.
“After meeting Mr. Brooks and examining his x-rays, I knew I could help improve his quality of life and help to alleviate his pain,” said Dr. Frewin.
In February 2024, Brooks underwent a right total hip replacement surgery with Dr. Frewin at Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital. He was discharged home the next day and immediately began in-home physical therapy sessions. Brooks’ recovery from hip surgery went so well that he returned to Dr. Frewin to undergo a left total knee replacement surgery in June 2024. Again, he was discharged home the next day, but this time, he underwent his therapy sessions at the hospital’s Therapy & Wellness Center. Brooks knew what to expect this time around and what he needed to do to maximize his recovery.
“Dr. Frewin is a wonderful surgeon. Everything went great with both joint replacement surgeries, and I bounced back pretty quickly all things considered,” said Brooks. “The hardest part is the rehab. I had sat around for so long, so my muscles needed to be worked, but the stretching and strengthening exercises were helpful.”
Today, Brooks is grateful when he reflects on how much has changed for him over the last year. He is taking advantage of the freedom to do simple activities that he has not been able to do in years such as yard work, basic household chores, and driving a car to visit family.
“These surgeries are the best thing I’ve ever done. My whole life has changed and now has a sense of worth. I’m no longer depressed just sitting around my house,” said Brooks. “I’m grateful to both Dr. Michalik and Dr. Frewin, who are excellent doctors with years of experience. We’re lucky to have their services available in Sullivan.”
Brooks is also looking forward to 2025, when he plans to have surgery on his other knee and hip with Dr. Frewin.
For more information about surgical weight loss procedures or to make an appointment for a consultation, please call (800) 392-0936. To contact Dr. Frewin at the Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital Orthopedic Clinic, call (573) 468-1974.