Medically discharged veteran avoids knee-replacement with non-surgical treatment

Military veteran Kara Nunn was commissioned in the United States Marine Corps for five years and then spent the next 24 years serving in the U.S. Army. After he was injured in Iraq during combat in 2007, he was medically discharged.

"They retired me as a result of that injury," Nunn said. "The division surgeon in the Army told me that I eventually would have to get a knee replacement. In order to make my knees last longer, he told me to stop running and stop carrying heavy weights, which I did for a while. Then after more time passed, normal activity started to bother me like climbing and going down steps."

Nunn's knee and joint pain, which stemmed from the injuries he sustained during his military service, were constant reminders of what had happened. Taking his doctor's advice, Nunn "took it easy" for three or four years as recommended, but soon the pain started to flare up once more.

"I went to my family doctor and he referred me to a knee surgeon. The knee surgeon said, 'You're a good candidate for a knee replacement.' But I didn't want to have knee surgery," Nunn said.

In the United States, the average cost of a total knee replacement is $57,000. This price is a hefty one, especially when you consider the recovery time, which can take up to six months. Knowing surgery wasn't what Nunn wanted, his family doctor recommended the Flexogenix clinic.

"He said that he didn't have any personal experience with their methods or products, but suggested I try them since I didn't want to have knee surgery," Nunn said. "I called them, I got an appointment with them, I went. The Flexogenix team explained to me what they were doing at the clinic, how they lubricate the knee and other joints. I gave them a try and have been with them ever since."

Flexogenix is a clinic that provides non-surgical joint pain solutions to patients struggling with knee, hip, shoulder, wrist and ankle pain. It is committed to helping people achieve active lifestyles, and empowers them to do so through innovative medicine and dedicated care.

Though relatively new, the clinic is dedicated to redefining the standard of joint care and has been treating patients for more than seven years across several cities — including Cary — using non-surgical methods.

Patients are treated by board-certified physicians through the clinic's patented, non-surgical methods such as its Knee-flex 5-Step program. This program includes injections of hyaluronic acid with pinpoint precision using image-guided technology. The injection "provides lubrication and tempers the friction within the joint to reduce cartilage wear and tear, diminish bone-on-bone pain, and increase mobility," as stated on the Flexogenix website.

"They give knee injections for three consecutive weeks. Then, you go three to four months without the injections," Nunn said. "With these treatments, normal activities — I don't have any problem with them. But, when I'm working out in the gym or doing heavy yard activities, I do wear a knee brace. Other than that, I don't need the brace to just walk around or go shopping."

Knee alignment and bracing is also part of the Flexogenix Knee-flex 5-Step program.

"In concert with our Kineti-Flex program, our medical team carefully examines the alignment of the joint, and whether it can benefit from either short-term or long-term bracing," stated the website. "As with every aspect of Flexogenix treatments, we have extensively researched the latest innovations and advancements in bracing. When prescribed correctly, bracing can be extremely effective in unloading and redistributing pressure off the worn areas of the joint. Again, our goal is long-term joint pain relief. Effective bracing and alignment can be a key to this success."

Despite being told he "needed" a knee replacement, Nunn has been routinely visiting the Flexogenix clinic every few months for his treatments and is going on five years of being pain-free. He's able to perform routine activities, as well as work out in the gym and tend to his yard, all without undergoing surgery.

"I'm glad I went the non-surgical route. Like I said, these treatments have been helpful, and just doing normal activities, I don't even need my brace," Nunn said. "I'm thankful that I went to them."