First-of-Its-Kind Knee Procedure Offering Brighter Future for Local Man

For Daniel B., life has been a testament to resilience. A former nurse who now installs and maintains crucial medical sterilization equipment, Daniel is no stranger to the demands of physical work. However, a meniscus injury sustained in 2024 while moving a heavy sterilizer added to a history of eight back surgeries, significantly impacting his mobility and quality of life. The persistent knee pain from everyday walking became a heavy burden.

But Daniel's story took an exciting turn when he became the first patient in the state of Tennessee to undergo a groundbreaking MISHA knee implant procedure performed by Dr. T. Lisle Whitman, practice president and board-certified orthopedic surgeon at Appalachian Orthopedics. This state-of-the-art implant offered a new approach to addressing his knee issues, and Daniel embraced the opportunity with hope.

"I walked the day of the surgery, and all the pain that I was having was gone," Daniel shared. While acknowledging the initial nerve block, he emphasized the lasting relief. "Even a couple of days after the nerve block wore off, I was still walking around . . . when all that wore off, I could tell that a lot of that pain that was in my knee was gone. I mean, I was fully load-bearing."

The impact has been huge for Daniel. "I'm telling you 100% with certainty, I am doing125% better," he said. "That pain that I had just from normal walking, oh, that's gone. My limb was gone, but now it's back again."

Daniel's trust in Dr. Whitman is long-standing, dating back to a successful shoulder surgery in 2005. "I trust him, and he did good work on me the first time, and apparently, I feel like he's done good work on me this time, too." He expressed a strong belief in the procedure's potential, saying, "I feel like this is going to be a lot better than doing a knee replacement on people. So they can have an alternative to a knee replacement. I feel like it's going to be that way for me because with the movement I have in my knee and the way I can move and my range of motion and all that stuff—everything's looking pretty good."

Daniel's journey with the innovative MISHA knee implant is still in its early stages of recovery, but his experience offers a powerful testament to the potential of advanced medical procedures and the dedication of skilled surgeons like Dr. Whitman. "If my right knee's going to need it too, I will gladly let him do this again on my right knee next," Daniel said, adding, “[Dr. Whitman]'s a great doctor, and he really cares about his patients.”

Appalachian Orthopedics is dedicated to staying at the forefront of orthopedic surgery that puts you first, and we are proud to serve patients like Daniel. If you’re dealing with chronic knee pain and want to know what your options are, our experts are here to help. To see if you’re a candidate for a MISHA knee implant, schedule an appointment online or call one of our four locations: Abingdon, Bristol Regional Medical Center, Elizabethton, or Johnson City.