Klaus

Doing What You Love

As a doctor, Klaus is accustomed to being on his feet.  His morning begins with a bike ride to the hospital.  Days are spent standing in an operating room or racing the stairs to quickly address patient needs.  Klaus finds great joy in working with children and he recognizes how his work can positively affect the entire trajectory of their lives.

Doing what we love to do – whether it’s hobbies or physical activities – enriches our lives, gives us a sense of purpose and generally makes us happier and healthier.  For Klaus, that “love” also includes ‘extreme trekking.’  His adventures began nearly 30 years ago and have spanned the mountain trails of the Alps in Germany, France and Switzerland to the beauty of Nepal and Tibet, the Roof of the World. 

Klaus planned to return for a four-week trek in September 2019.  It’s a lengthy, complex and grueling trek.  So, when the knee pain began in early 2019, he worried about both the Nepal trip and his work as a surgeon.  Klaus realised almost immediately that it was osteoarthritis (OA). 

An X-ray and MRI confirmed that it was Stage-4 OA.  Considered “severe,” Stage-4 OA patients experience great pain and discomfort when they walk or move the joint.  The space between bones is dramatically reduced, cartilage is almost completely gone and friction among the moving parts of a joint is highly increased.  Klaus wanted immediate relief and support.  His physician recommended Platelet-Rich Plasma treatments and an Össur Unloader Brace.

Almost immediately, his pain eased dramatically, and he was able to resume his demanding work schedule and return to the activity he loves the most.