Orthopedics, Close to Home

To say Anacortes resident, Louise McKnight, is active is an understatement. An athlete from childhood through college, Louise is an active runner, former basketball coach and a 27-year fitness instructor. She is also in her 30th year as a preschool teacher, currently at Anchors Away. Louise had to give up the sports she loved most almost two decades ago, when a knee injury limited her activity. At the time of her injury, her doctor discouraged surgery because she was so young. Instead, Louise had a “clean up” meniscus repair with an experimental procedure to create scar tissue in hopes of replicating the cartilage that had sheared from the bone during the injury.

Last year the pain got to be too much, so Louise began a series of cortisone shots with the same provider. But the pain persisted.

“I just thought it made sense to see the doctor who performed my original surgery,” Louise said.

But with her busy schedule, the traveling back and forth just wasn’t working. A friend convinced Louise to return to Island Health and recommended Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Eric Secrist. There was an immediate connection. Dr. Secrist and Louise decided to move forward with a partial replacement, which is a more complicated surgery than a full replacement, but much better for Louise.

Dr. Secrist never pushed for surgery; instead it was a decision that he and Louise came to together. He made it very clear what she could expect, that there would be scars, and that recovery would take time and work. “I appreciated his directness and felt very comfortable,” said Louise.

Louise had a successful medial replacement last spring and is so grateful to be back at Island Health for her care. In fact, she now also has a primary care physician at Island Health.

“It was a game changer and the best decision,” Louise said. “The convenience is a factor, but what’s more important is the quality of care I’ve gotten. That matters.”

To date, Louise has graduated from physical therapy and is now doing her own therapy at the gym. She is thankful to her entire healthcare team, who pushed her in just the right ways.

Island Orthopedics is now accepting patients! If you would like to schedule an appointment with Dr. Secrist, call 360.299.4218.