Swimming Through Recovery
Meet avid hiker, skillful canoeist, and competitive swimmer, Peter Fechheimer. Obviously, this energetic 72-year-old is quite the athlete. Along with spending time with his wife, granddaughter, and flat coat retriever, Winnie, Peter loves to train and compete in swim meets, like the U.S. Masters Swimming Events and the Senior Olympics. But after decades of defying pain, one thing eventually pried Peter away from his passions – his left knee.
Peter had been a candidate for knee replacement surgery for about ten years, but was advised to first try using a knee brace to manage pain. Luckily, wearing the brace allowed Peter to temporarily table his knee pain and to uphold his active lifestyle. For ten years, his brace kept hurt away during long-distance hikes, challenging canoe trips, and competitive swimming. But the time came when Peter’s pain outgrew the knee brace. “When it became painful to get around the house or go on walks with my wife, I realized that it was time for surgery.”
On May 14, 2013, Peter underwent knee replacement surgery from Tennessee Orthopedic Alliance’s Dr. Philip Karpos, who Peter deems “An excellent surgeon with a wonderful bedside manner.” With Peter’s athletic lifestyle, Dr. Karpos knew a successful knee replacement surgery meant more than ensuring Peter could walk without pain again. Peter needed to participate in a very physically demanding sport at a competitive level. Dr. Karpos prevailed, and within weeks of surgery, Peter sprung into action once again.
“What was most satisfying was the speed of my recovery and the fact that I could get back to swimming so quickly.” Before his knee replacement, Peter asked Dr. Karpos if he could be ready to compete in a swim meet on June 25, six weeks after his operation. Dr. Karpos told Peter it was possible if he committed to his physical therapy.
As instructed, Peter tore through his physical therapy exercises, and his hard work showed. Four weeks after surgery, Dr. Karpos said Peter could get back in the pool for walking exercises. After a few days of these exercises, Peter started to swim, and was soon able to ease into his normal training routine.
On June 25, just six weeks to the day after his knee replacement, Peter competed in the Tennessee Senior Olympics. “I feel very fortunate to have recovered so quickly. I didn’t have all of my speed or endurance back, but the fact that I could even compete that soon was a big thrill.”