Success Stories

Thanks to the care I received at KOC, I can now enjoy a walk or a hike. Dr. Becker performed one knee replacement in Feb. 2024 and the other in Nov. 2024 at the KOC Surgery Center. Dr. Becker and his staff went above and beyond to make sure I received great care. I highly recommend his team!

Success Stories

Thanks to Dr. Crawford, I feel like a new person! Before my spinal fusion, I woke up in pain and went to bed in pain. I was limited in what I could do because of the pain I was in. Now, I look forward to doing the things I love again, like playing basketball, kayaking, fishing and spending time outdoors with my friends and family. Dr. Crawford was always honest and made sure I understood what the next steps in my journey would be. Thank you, Dr. Crawford, and the staff at KOC.

Success Stories

Thanks to my care at KOC, I can now enjoy life pain-free. I was able to participate in homecoming this year, something that may have been impossible before my spinal fusion surgery. Walking out onto that field without pain was incredible, and I can now walk in heels like a champ. I also twirl baton and can perform tricks, spins and illusions that used to be painful, and I can do all of that without worrying about my back. I love that I can live my life the way I want and can finally be a normal teenager. My dream is to be a majorette for the Pride of the Southland Band at the University of Tennessee, Go Vols!

Success Stories

Thanks to my care at KOC, I can turn my neck!

Before treatment, I was in pain for about 80 percent of the day and I couldn't sleep because of it. After suffering for a year, I went to see Dr. Luke Madigan. I felt confident that he knew what was wrong and how to fix it.

It's been two months since my neck surgery and I feel great. I can even work out again!

Success Stories

Just four weeks after my right hip was replaced, I was able to bike the Cades Cove Loop and it felt great! At my four-week evaluation after my hip replacement surgery, Dr. Nadaud said I was able to ride a bicycle again. I rode the 11-mile loop at Cades Cove in the Smokies. Dr. Nadaud was right, and it felt great to bike the loop!

Success Stories

I’m active again! My herniated disc was causing debilitating sciatica, and I was unable to walk for more than two months. I was treated by Dr. Luke Madigan at Knoxville Orthopaedic Clinic who performed a microdiscectomy that changed my life. Now I can enjoy an active lifestyle again. I am so pleased with the results of my procedure and the exceptional care provided by Dr. Madigan. I am truly grateful! 

Success Stories

After many years in pain, I am ready to travel and enjoy life without any pain, thanks to the care I received at Knoxville Orthopaedic Clinic and Knoxville Orthopaedic Surgery Center. I had total knee replacement on my left knee in December 2022, and my right knee was replaced in July 2023. Dr. Gregory Mathien and the staff are truly great people and I thank them all for getting me this far. For anyone who is considering a knee replacement, I recommend that you fully invest yourself in the process from pre-surgery preparation to post-surgery therapy. I’m going to miss the team, but now that I’ve completed therapy and been released, I’m ready to go explore and have three trips planned in the next eight months.

Success Stories

Partial knee replacement put positivity back into my life. I’m an avid hiker, and in June 2022, I had tightness, swelling and pain in my knee after a hike. When fluid removal and medication were unsuccessful, I scheduled surgery for October 2023. The KOC team fully prepared me and were friendly and professional. Dr. Matthew Nadaud told me that I would return to hiking, a great morale booster. I completed physical therapy and in February 2024 hiked 9 miles through the most rugged terrain in Frozen Head State Park. It took limping around for months before coming to grips with the reality that I needed surgery, so I urge you to not wait to get the help that can improve your life!

Success Stories

We are active seniors who have had six joint replacements in the past two years, all performed by Dr. Matthew Nadaud, who came highly recommended by friends. In the fall of 2021, Lonnie had both hips replaced and Charlotte had a knee replaced. By December, we were able to stand and pack shoeboxes all day for Operation Christmas Child. Two more surgeries came a year later, and we took a 12-day trip to Israel that December. Since then, we’ve logged thousands of RV, kayak and bike miles. The last surgery in December 2023 was Charlotte’s hip replacement. We are extremely pleased with the staff at KOC and the surgical center and highly recommend Dr. Nadaud. Thank you for giving us pain-free years to make memories!

Success Stories

On 8/15/23, 9 weeks after my total hip replacement by Dr. Nadaud, I climbed Katahdin, the iconic north terminus of the Appalachian Trail. I was concerned that this year would the first time since 1957 that I wouldn’t get to repeat this climb. Dr. Nadaud encouraged me to give it a go, and his recommendation was well grounded. I made the 4.4 mile hike, climbing through around 4000 feet elevation gain, with no discomfort from my right hip. Big thanks to Dr. Nadaud and his crew for helping me maintain the level of activity that I crave!

Success Stories

My son Austin is talented in basketball. I am so glad I took the recommendations to take him to Dr. Rappé. He did an amazing job fixing his ACL and meniscus. He is now on his journey to full recovery. He was dunking the day after being cleared. It wasn't his prettiest dunk, but that is amazing after just a day. We have had a great experience with all KOC doctors. I just have to give a extra shout out to Dr. Rappé. He makes you feel confident and he is very sagacious on the knee area. I am so blessed that my son was in great hands. He took great care of him and you never forget that. He is now getting back to starting to play ball. I would recommend Dr. Rappé to anyone and especially his expertise of the knee area. I feel my son can get to the next level after being in such great hands! Thank you Dr. Rappé!

Success Stories

Thanks to my care at KOC, I can continue enjoying the activities I love. I put off knee replacements for years, thinking it would not benefit me at my age (73). I can not thank Dr. Nadaud and his staff enough for what they have given back to me. After my visit with Dr. Nadaud and all his encouragement, I had both knees done July 1st 2019. 13 weeks later, I was on a flowrider (surfing), and have plans to be back on the snow (snowboarding) this winter. It was my idea for many years; if I have knee replacements, they will not support any extreme activities. If you are one who has the same fears, talk to Dr Nadaud. All I can say is THANK YOU!!!!!

Success Stories

Thanks to my care at KOC, I can now hike in the Smokies and walk without pain!! I now have 500+ miles of hiking under my belt!! In April 2014, Dr. Nadaud performed bilateral total knee replacements on me. Prior to the surgery, I had been in a lot of pain and had a significant limp and altered gait and I had dealt with this for several years. I was reluctant to have such a major surgery but I am so glad that I did! For years before the surgery I could not even walk long enough to shop without so much pain! I dreaded even grocery shopping! Having hiked before my knee problems, I never thought I would be able to hike again. Wrong!! One year after I had the surgery, I was able to hike to Mt LeConte! This past Tuesday we hiked to Mt LeConte again which put my husband and I over the 500 mile mark for hiking in the Smokies since 2016. I attribute my ability to hike to Dr. Nadaud who essentially gave me back my ability to live an active life! I do not have any knee pain now! Of course, I have a little soreness after a long hike but this is normal! The soreness is gone in a day or so even after a long hike! I am so thankful for Dr. Nadaud and his expertise and kindness. I recommend him wholeheartedly! He is the best from my perspective! I am eternally grateful! Thank you Dr. Nadaud!

Success Stories

Thanks to my ACL surgery by Dr. Betcher, I was able to recover in just over 4 months and win a state title in wrestling. I am now a junior at the University of the Cumberland where I play DE. I made a 4.0 this past semester in Biology. I am studying to become a PA.

Success Stories

Thanks to my care at KOC, I can now do the routine things I used to do without pain: mow my yard, ride a bike, hike, use stairs, and walk with my wife. The knee pain had gotten so bad that the simple act of walking was becoming difficult as time progressed. We enjoyed traveling, but that had not been much of an option for the last couple of years. I'm happy to say that on January 7, 2019 (just over 3 months after my surgery, which was October 5, 2018) we enjoyed a trip to Israel. The attached picture shows us on the Mt. of Olives overlooking Jerusalem! We walked/hiked 53 miles over a seven day period. There is no way I could have done this, or even attempted this trip, prior to Dr. Nadaud performing the partial replacement. Thank you Dr. Nadaud, staff, and the KOC team for restoring the quality of my life!

Success Stories

Thanks to my care at KOC, I am now back in my whitewater kayak 7 months after my surgery. Due to severe lumbar stenosis I was barely able to walk 9 months ago. I'm now virtually pain free and back to all activities including whitewater kayaking, daily 2 hour sessions in the gym, mountain biking and hiking. Dr. Madigan is an amazing surgeon and we are extremely fortunate to have KOC in the Knoxville area. By the way, I'm 71 years young!!!!!!!

Success Stories

Dr. Botero is a great surgeon and this is a testimony to his work. This was five weeks three days out from a knee replacement. We road 12 miles. I have an e-bike which is a big help, but still pretty good for an almost 70 wear old woman.

Success Stories

20 years ago, I had an ACL reconstruction done by my KOC partner, Dr. Greg Mathien. Three weeks prior, I was playing church league basketball (at age 37) and landed after an otherwise innocent rebound and felt a strange thunk in my left knee. Everybody else thought I had rolled my ankle. I knew it was different (I am a pediatric orthopedist at KOC). Three days later, I let myself accept the truth and let Dr. Mathien examine my knee. He was calm and talkative as he manipulated my knee, but then said, “Oh yeah. Your ACL is gone.” Three weeks of working out the stiffness and weakness and then day of surgery. I had complete faith and trust in him and all went well. Therapy at KOC started three days later. I was back to work in a week. I was riding a 60 mile bike ride 3 months later, and skiing with college buddies the next winter. I have played with my kids (now all grown), done dozens of triathlons, and gone on many multi-day bike trips for my birthday since then and never had a hint of problem with my knee. Thank you, Dr. Mathien, for letting me push back middle age a couple decades (and counting).

Success Stories

Even though Dr. John Crawford is an orthopedic surgeon, he specializes in matters of the heart. Almost two decades ago, he repaired our daughter’s ACL injury. She had never had surgery before, so he mended her knee while practically holding our hands. We were shocked when she called us from inside the surgical room ON HIS PERSONAL CELL PHONE. It sounded like there was a party going on in the background, and we breathed a sigh of relief. She hasn’t had a knee problem since. Fourteen years ago, our daughter suffered a severe traumatic brain injury and although she didn’t have a single broken bone, Dr. Crawford helped us evaluate her paralyzed and postured left arm, gently guiding us through safe stretches to regain her mobility. She is thirty-three now, married, and she is a mommy to two of the cutest little boys in the whole world. She still struggles with short term memory, but her mobility has long since returned in her arm. While it’s true Dr. Crawford is a top orthopedic surgeon, I bet you didn’t know how much he knows about hearts.