98-year-old walks on newly treated knee joints

Mrs. Norcross came in with severe bone-on-bone knee pain. Two orthopedic surgeons had already told her the only option was total knee replacement, and at 98, surgery carried risks the family was not willing to accept.

We evaluated her on ultrasound, reviewed her history, and placed her on a course of Medicare-covered hyaluronic gel injections guided by imaging. The protocol is simple, low-risk, and Medicare-covered for patients who meet the criteria.

By the end of the series, Mrs. Norcross was walking with noticeably less pain, better stability, and more confidence. Her family recorded video of her taking steps she had not taken comfortably in years.

This is the point of integrative medicine. There is almost always another option before surgery, and for older patients especially, that option matters.