A patient experiencing post-operative pain was grateful to receive excellent care in his local community. Following surgery, he embraced his recovery journey and rekindled his passion for the great outdoors.

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After relocating to Rice Lake, Wisconsin, William Kowalski found himself grappling with knee pain that threatened to rob him of his favorite outdoor activities. Determined to regain his mobility, he sought help at Mayo Clinic Health System, where he discovered not just a solution, but a supportive community.

Seeking answers

In 2023, William underwent bilateral knee replacement surgery at a non-Mayo-affiliated facility, but unfortunately, he continued to experience pain and limited mobility. Frustrated and seeking answers, he visited his primary care clinician, Barbara Ankarlo, M.D., a family medicine physician at Mayo Clinic Health System in Rice Lake.

"Dr. Ankarlo recommended that I follow up with the orthopedic department at Mayo Clinic Health System in Barron," he recalls.

Initially concerned about receiving care in a smaller community, William was pleasantly surprised by the exceptional treatment he received.

"When I arrived, I walked by a picture in the lobby that read, 'The needs of the patient come first.' The entire staff certainly lived up to that standard."
William Kowalski

During his initial orthopedic consultation, William worked closely with Sara Reinikainen, a nurse practitioner in Barron.

"When I meet a patient like William, the biggest thing I try to remember is to listen to the patient," Sara says. "They will often tell you what is wrong. From there, I ruled out the most common complications of pain after joint replacement." 

"Sara was incredibly thorough and sincere in her approach to uncovering the source of my knee pain," William says. "She asked detailed questions about my symptoms and the specific activities — like walking, climbing stairs, and even getting out of a chair — that caused me the most discomfort. It was nice to have someone take me seriously and lay out a course of action that I could understand the logic behind."

Surgical path forward

After a series of tests, William's care team determined that surgery was the best path forward. The surgical team, led by Joshua Balts, M.D., at Mayo Clinic Health System in Barron, employed a "knee button" to resurface the underside of William's kneecap (patella). This small plastic component replaces worn cartilage and works in conjunction with a metal component on the femur to restore smooth movement.

"Once it became clear the kneecap was the source of pain, the surgery itself is actually fairly straightforward," says Dr. Balts. "The difficulty in these cases of knee pain after a replacement is trying to determine what is causing the pain. Sara did a great job of asking the right questions and getting the correct tests to get to the bottom of it."

"Dr. Balts took the time to explain his thoughts on the procedure," William recalls. "His bedside manner was terrific, and he made me feel comfortable asking questions and sharing my concerns."

Focusing on the patient

On the day of his surgery, William was impressed by the attention he received from the pre-operative nursing team.

"They focused on me as a patient rather than the computer," he says. "Their kindness and dedication ensured that I felt comfortable and had all my questions answered."

Following the surgery, William embraced his journey of recovery and rekindled his passion for the great outdoors.

"I enjoy fishing, hunting and spending time with my grandchildren," he shares. "There's nothing quite like being on the lake, laying a fly on the water and watching as a bass devours it. I even hope to make a fishing trip to Alaska next summer."

Looking ahead

William is scheduled to have surgery on the other knee later this summer by the same team in Barron.

"I have been so impressed with the professionalism and kindness of my care team," he says with gratitude. "We are fortunate to have such exceptional staff and facilities close to home."