Mike Wright, a 59-year-old cowboy from Basco, Illinois, said on Apr. 6 that he has been able to continue his active lifestyle thanks to treatment from Carrie Bennett, a nurse practitioner at Blessing Health System Orthopedics and Sports Medicine. Wright had struggled with joint pain in his hips and knees for years but wanted to avoid surgery because it would keep him out of the saddle.
Wright’s story highlights how some patients seek alternatives to surgery in order to maintain their daily routines and passions. For Wright, riding horses and mules is central to his life. “That’s what my life is about, riding,” he said.
The pain became worse over time as cartilage wore away in his joints and bone spurs developed in both knees. “From my hips up, I’m fine. From my hips down, I’m a wreck,” Wright said. Despite the discomfort making it harder for him to ride or get into the saddle, he resisted surgery: “I’m 59 years old. I don’t want to replace anything. I’m getting by.”
Bennett met Wright at a donkey sorting event he hosted at River Valley Horse Camp in Farmington, Iowa—a competitive activity involving moving numbered donkeys between pens on horseback—which led her to suggest an appointment for further evaluation of his condition.
“He was not able to walk correctly and looked like he was in pain getting on and off his horse,” Bennett said. She arranged for testing that confirmed severe orthopedic issues but respected Wright’s wish to delay surgery as long as possible: “If we can keep him in the saddle as long as possible…I think that’s great.”
With Bennett’s help through exercises and injections designed to manage pain and inflammation, Wright reports significant improvement: “It has helped me tremendously.” He described being able now to spend nearly twelve hours working cattle at sales each Monday—something previously impossible without days of recovery afterward.
Looking ahead, both know that eventually joint replacement may be necessary if other treatments stop working. However, Bennett reassures others considering alternatives: “If it’s not the right time for you to have surgery, there are things we can do…to make it more tolerable until you are ready.”
