An avid cyclist, Stephen Marino and his wife have traveled across the country to participate in a variety of multi-day bicycle tours. However, towards the end of 2023, Stephen’s struggle with severe joint pain threatened to put an end to his long-distance riding.
“I had bone-on-bone knee pain, and I was unable to ride my bike without pain,” he shares.
Stephen’s discomfort continued to worsen, with even simple activities proving difficult. While he tried gel and cortisone shots to relieve his symptoms, riding a bike was still painful, and his cycling training began to suffer.
“I postponed my surgery for a while because I was nervous,” Stephen shares. “But it finally became so painful that I could not walk well, I could not get on the floor and play with my grandson, and my riding was cut back.”
Choosing CSMO for Knee Replacement
After previously working with Dr. Benji Miller at Center for Sports Medicine & Orthopaedics (CSMO) for his rotator cuff surgery years earlier, Stephen knew where to turn when it came time to be evaluated for his knee. After evaluating Stephen, Dr. Miller recommended knee replacement to relieve pain, restore function, and help Stephen get back on his bike.
“Dr. Miller had done my rotator cuff surgery when I first moved to Tennessee in 2017. He was highly recommended,” Stephen says. “So when it came time for the knee replacement, I had experience with Dr. Miller. It was an easy choice.”
“I was provided all the information and material I needed prior to the surgery, and I had very good follow-up meetings where all my questions were answered,” Stephen adds.
A Tailored Physical Therapy Approach
After his knee replacement, Stephen began physical therapy at CSMO, where his care team worked diligently to create a recovery plan that suited Stephen’s athletic needs.
“At physical therapy, I believe there is a standard recovery plan,” he says. “However, they were willing to let me push myself harder than the plan. I liked that they were able to tailor the standard plan to let an individual push oneself harder to recover faster.”
Stephen was also grateful for Dr. Miller and the CSMO team’s continued involvement throughout the recovery process.
“I was surprised by the follow-up visits,” he shares. “I did not expect that and thought that once surgery was done, that was it. But I had appointments with Dr. Miller during and after physical therapy. I really liked the honest communication with Dr. Miller.”
Returning to the Road
That partnership – between patient, surgeon, and therapy team – helped Stephen recover remarkably quickly.
“I was back on my bike in just two and a half months,” he says. “After the recovery, I was able to ride without pain.”
Since his knee replacement in January of 2024, Stephen has ridden just shy of 5,000 miles on his bike. With his wife at his side, he’s completed rides across the U.S., including Bike Ride Across Tennessee; Fort Myers to Key West, Florida; California’s Central Coast; and the Katy Trail in Missouri. The Marinos just recently returned from FestiVELO in South Carolina and are already planning a coast-to-coast ride in Florida and a tour from Innsbruch, Austria, to Venice, Italy, in 2026.
Despite initial nerves surrounding the surgery, Stephen couldn’t be happier with Dr. Miller, his care team, and his quick recovery.
“I’m very happy with CSMO,” he finishes. “They are a great practice, and I am grateful for the physical therapy they had available after surgery.”
At CSMO, patients like Stephen are at the heart of everything we do. Our experienced team provides patient-centered care to help individuals regain mobility and return to the activities they love. Call (423) 624-2696 or schedule an appointment online today.
Benji Miller, MD
Arthroscopic & Total Joint Specialist
