Benny Moore enjoyed a rewarding career as a search and rescue swimmer for the United States military. He readily put himself in peril to save lives. Yet, his selfless service to his country eventually led to his diagnosis of osteoarthritis — in his mid-30s.

Benny explains, “My knees started swelling with fluid, so I would get them drained. After I completed my tour of duty for the U.S. military, I began working for the North Carolina Correctional Institution for Women. While in this position, I visited a doctor who diagnosed me with osteoarthritis.”

Along with fluid buildup, Benny also experienced stiffness and pain. As he lived by the mottos “pain is weakness leaving the body” and “fight through it,” he chose to tolerate the pain for 15 years before it simply became unbearable.

As time went on, Benny — still a dedicated athlete who worked out regularly — found that osteoarthritis slowed him down considerably. By his mid-40s, a once strong and healthy Benny began to feel “old and fat.”

“The older I got, the worse and more painful it got. I just kept trying to endure. Eventually, I came to a point where I just couldn’t go anywhere. I was barely able to walk or complete my tasks at work.”

A Win for Dr. Alan Summers of Wake Orthopaedics

Meanwhile, R. Alan Summers, MD, had been Benny’s orthopaedic provider for seven years. He’d been urging Benny to move forward with total knee replacement surgery. Yet, Benny had been resistant because he felt it was “weak” to succumb to the pain and get surgery.

Finally, Benny couldn’t bear the pain any longer. He knew he had to get the surgery. He called Tina Deaver, a medical assistant at the Orthopaedics – Cary location, to submit his disability paperwork and begin the process of taking medical leave from work and scheduling his surgery. He was very impressed with Tina’s compassion and speedy work.

“Most people can’t afford to go months without a paycheck, so my company offered short-term disability,” Benny surmises. “The day I sent her the paperwork, she had it back to the disability office that exact day. I was amazed. Tina jumped through every hurdle to get this taken care of for me — quickly. Getting disability didn’t make a positive or negative difference in her life. Yet, the level of effort she put in was something I’d never seen in health care. I’m grateful to Tina.”

Impressive Care at Holly Springs Surgery Center

Once his disability authorization was in place, Benny scheduled his three-hour surgery. February 17, 2023, marked the date for the first of two total knee replacements at the Holly Springs Surgery Center.

Benny had to stop taking his anti-inflammatory medications as well as opiates prior to surgery, so he came into the facility experiencing significant discomfort.

“I was in excruciating pain by the time I arrived that morning for surgery, but I have never been better taken care of by any medical facility — point blank period.”

Benny was especially impressed with the team’s dedication to error prevention. Each staff member who visited him would share the same information about his surgical procedure, the process, the expected length of surgery and what to expect afterwards.

Benny says, “I do troubleshooting as part of my job, so I understand that it’s better to have multiple eyes on a situation. When they were explaining the process to me, they would go over it again and again and again. I understood what they were doing. They were not just informing me, but they were letting each other know to ensure checks and balances within their system.”

Benny was also pleased with the benefits of the surgery center, including outpatient surgery with discharge the same day.

He remembers, “Two nurses took care of me from the moment I arrived until after I awoke from surgery and went home. It was just incredible.”

Relief After a Successful Surgery

After surgery, Benny felt better. In fact, he did not feel pain until the following day. Gratefully, when that pain surfaced, it was much more tolerable than the pain he’d been living with for years.

Smiling, Benny expresses, “The pain I felt from the surgery was less agitating and less impactful than the pain I had from the osteoarthritis.”

Once Benny was discharged from the surgery center, WakeMed physical therapists visited his home three times per week to help him exercise and rebuild his mobility and strength.

He recalls, “The physical therapists did their job thoroughly. I was getting back to my old self. Then something changed. Usually, I’m like the Energizer Bunny. I can go for a good while and not tire, but within days of my procedure, I noticed I was fatigued walking halfway across the house. I knew something was off.”

A Complication and a Hospital Stay

When Benny visited Dr. Summers for his follow-up appointment on March 1, 2022, he expressed this concern. Immediately alarmed, Dr. Summers ordered a computed tomography (CT) scan for Benny and sent him to Imaging – Garner at the WakeMed Garner Healthplex for his next-day appointment.

He had his scan within 24 hours of seeing Dr. Summers, and the results were concerning. After seeing them in MyChart, Benny emailed Tina Deaver through his account, and Tina called Benny immediately.

Remembering this moment, Benny laughs. “Tina told me, ‘Do not pass go; do not collect $200.00. Take yourself straight to the emergency room. Do not hesitate. Get there quickly.'”

Upon arrival to the WakeMed Raleigh Campus Emergency Department on March 2, 2022, Benny learned of his diagnosis. He’d developed bilateral pulmonary embolisms — which is blood clots in both lungs. WakeMed pulmonary and critical care medicine physician Eric Olson, MD, MSCI determined the best course of action was to put Benny on blood thinners.

He shares, “Mr. Moore was doing well clinically on initial blood thinner medication. I briefly discussed his case with my colleague, Dan Fox, MD, and he continued to improve. It’s great to see that Mr. Moore is doing so well now, especially since in my position, I typically only see patients when they are sick in the hospital.”

Within days, his blood clots resolved, and Benny was discharged from the hospital on March 4, 2022.

Of that experience, Benny shares, “From what I understand, that’s one of the risks of surgery. I commend Dr. Summers on how quickly he moved when I told him about my shortness of breath. I received the scan within a day, and I was admitted to the hospital the very same day.”

Dr. Summers is also pleased with the outcome.

He explains, “Mr. Moore had significant knee osteoarthritis. He had immediate pain relief and improved function following surgery. At his first post-operative visit, he complained of shortness of breath, and I referred him for a chest CT scan which captured his pulmonary embolisms. These are potentially life-threatening. They were caught and treated, and he is progressing extremely well.”

Better Days Ahead

Today, Benny is feeling amazing. He exercises regularly, visiting WakeMed Outpatient Rehabilitation – Clayton twice per week and working out at a local gym the other days of the week. He looks forward to a full recovery and getting back to work.

Benny also offers a special message to tough guys who try to endure severe pain.

“I 100% say don’t wait to seek care. Unless you’re in combat, that thinking doesn’t apply. Take care of yourself, and do it as quickly as humanly possible. Don’t let pride or ego get in the way.”

Within twelve months, Benny expects to have his other knee replaced, and he is now looking forward to it.

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About WakeMed Critical Care

WakeMed features the highest level of critical care services available in Wake County. Our highly trained physicians and staff offer quality, specialized care for patients of all ages.

Our 11 critical care units are supported by board-certified specialty physicians, intensivists, nurses and allied health professionals. If you or your family member has a critical care health need, WakeMed is the place to be.

About WakeMed Emergency Services

The WakeMed system of emergency departments is one of the largest and busiest in North Carolina. As a result, we’ve pretty much seen it all. Our doctors are board certified in emergency medicine, are backed by the highest designated Trauma Center available and bring with them the depth of experience that you would expect from the area’s leader in emergency care.

So, rest assured that no matter where it hurts, we’ve got you covered.

About WakeMed Imaging Services

WakeMed Imaging Services is a full-service imaging department offering advanced technology, convenient access and prompt testing and results. As professionals who have a true passion for care and caring, we focus on providing excellent, individualized service to each patient. Additionally, we have been designated a Diagnostic Imaging Center of Excellence by the American College of Radiology, one of the largest and most influential medical associations in the United States.

About Wake Orthopaedics

For 20 years, Wake Orthopaedics has been serving the Triangle community with comprehensive orthopaedic care to help their patients regain their mobility and restore their quality of life. With specialties and expertise in conditions of the bones, muscles and joints, our team of board-certified and fellowship-trained specialists utilize progressive treatments and state-of-the-art technology to care for everything from hip fractures to ACL injuries to arthritis. In addition to traditional orthopaedic services, Wake Orthopaedics provides trauma services, rehabilitation services and care for pediatric injuries. Wake Orthopaedics is a WakeMed Physician Practice.

About WakeMed Physical Therapy

Our goal at WakeMed Physician Practices – Physical Therapy is to get you back to your active lifestyle. Our techniques are based on national best practices to ensure you receive the latest, best treatment for your condition. We provide physical therapy and occupational therapy in Raleigh, Cary, the Brier Creek area, Clayton and Apex, North Carolina.

About the Holly Springs Surgery Center

Holly Springs Surgery Center aims to provide our patients with a comfortable environment that focuses on their safety. We have built a state-of-the-art facility with the newest equipment and experienced staff. The center adheres to the strictest standards established by the State of North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Medicare and the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC). The center has three Operating Rooms and one Procedure Room which focus on the following surgical specialties: orthopedics, spine, hand surgery, ophthalmology, urology and pain management.