Thirty-one-year-old Yvonne Fossen of Maddock, North Dakota, spent the summer of 2017 playing with her two kids for the first time in four years. In the past, she couldn’t possibly get down on her hands and knees to play. That was until she met Dr. Darin Leetun of Altru Advanced Orthopedics.
Four years ago, Yvonne had torn her ACL and meniscus and had them repaired at another healthcare facility. “I was 27 years old at the time and had never been hard on my knees,” explains Yvonne. “I had two small children at home, and the pain after surgery just never seemed to go away.”
“The last straw was when I could no longer take a short walk without it throbbing,” she explains. “That’s no way to live at 31 years old!”
She saw her primary care provider, Dr. Heidi Bittner, who recommended Dr. Leetun.
Yvonne recalls, “The first time I met him, I knew he was going to make my knee better… and my life.”
Just Phenomenal
Yvonne not only appreciated Dr. Leetun, but also the care environment and other staff members she encountered. She shares, “The technology installed in Altru Professional Center is just phenomenal. I couldn’t get over how awesome it was, and how caring everyone was. They genuinely wanted to make my life better. The initial nurse was amazing at informing me of the process, and Dr. Leetun re-explained everything in an easy-to-understand way. He let me know that I had options, and we were going to fix my knee.” Dr. Leetun scheduled Yvonne for x-rays and an MRI that day. After reviewing the results, he explained she would need a minimum of two procedures to improve her knee pain. “We scheduled an arthroscopy and cleaned up the cartilage,” she explains, “and he repaired another tear in the meniscus.”
Yvonne was on crutches for two weeks, followed by physical therapy for six weeks. At her eight-week check-up, she was still experiencing some pain and stiffness, so Dr. Leetun gave her a shot of cortisone to make her more comfortable.
Living Pain-Free
“It feels better now than it has in four years!” exclaims Yvonne. “We will schedule the next procedure for the winter. Dr. Leetun really listened to my concerns and understand that I am way too young to not be able to get down and play with my daughters and dogs.”
Yvonne, along with her husband and two girls, enjoys being outside and biking, skiing, walking, swimming, and hunting. Now that Yvonne is living pain-free again, the Fossens are back to sharing their favorite activities—together.
Knee pain can affect people of all ages, often resulting in discomfort, aching, and soreness. Altru Advanced Orthopedics’ providers offer a wide range of personalized treatment options for knee pain and injury. Learn more >>
