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Thanks to knee replacement surgery at UAMS, Melissa "Mimi" Evans is back out on the links, enjoying working on her golf game. Image by Katrina Dupins

Knee Replacement Puts LR Golfer Back in the Swing of Things

Sept. 10, 2021 | The gradual increase of pain in Melissa “Mimi” Evans’ knees was subtle. In 2015, her co-workers pointed out to her that she was limping, favoring her left knee. She recognized it was more of a struggle to do everyday tasks, but she was able to live with it.

In 2018, a four-hour car ride left her in extreme pain. A friend had given her tickets to “Monday at the Masters” in Augusta, Georgia. Evans is an accomplished golfer who has been playing since she was 10 years old. She is also president of the Rebsamen Park Women’s Golf Association.

“When I got out of the car, I couldn’t walk. So when we got home, I went to the doctor and they said, ‘Ms. Evans your left knee is worse than your right.’ I said, ‘That’s not right.’”

But Evans was not yet ready to schedule a knee replacement surgery.

“I procrastinated, kept struggling and limping until finally I told myself I had to make an appointment. I called Dr. Barnes.”

C. Lowry Barnes, M.D., is a professor and chair of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). The board-certified surgeon is one of the foremost joint replacement experts in the nation. Evans knew Barnes when he was a resident. She had a 45-year career as a registered radiologic technologist.

“It’s been interesting to know someone from 30 years ago working in a different role, and now she’s coming to have her knee replaced by me,” Barnes said. “It’s quite rewarding to see some of these old friendships become surgeon/patient relationships as well as friends.”

“I was in the exam room. Dr. Barnes walks in and said ‘Mimi! What are you doing here?!’ I said, ‘My knees hurt!’”

Evans had to wait a little longer to get surgery. Last spring UAMS temporarily paused elective surgeries and procedures because of the COVID-19 pandemic. She had the surgery in November 2020.

“Knee replacement is not like it used to be,” Barnes said. “When I was a resident the average length of stay for a knee replacement was 12 days. Now three-fourths of my patients go home the day of surgery. Everything has improved from the surgical approach to the way we manage pain.”

Five months after surgery, Evans is once again scheduling frequent tee times at the Rebsamen Park Golf Course. She’s looking forward to more tournaments and has achieved her goal of improving her swing. An instructor reminded her during a golf lesson, “You can use your left knee now.”

Evans had adjusted her swing when golfing through pain. It hurt too much to follow through, causing her to lose distance.

“Now I’m hitting the ball farther. My knee doesn’t hurt, and my golf game is also on the road to recovery.”