Patient Stories

From Surgery to Santiago: A Patient's Incredible Journey on the Camino de Santiago

“Hola Dr. Karas and Staff, Greetings from Santiago de Compostela, Spain, and the conclusion of my Camino!”

Those words, sent to us with stunning photos from across the Atlantic, filled our office with pride and awe. In 2021, this remarkable patient underwent bilateral knee replacements performed by Dr. Karas. Just a few years later, they’ve completed one of the most physically demanding walking pilgrimages in the world — the Camino de Santiago.

The Camino de Santiago, also known as The Way of St. James, is a historic pilgrimage route with many paths leading to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in northwestern Spain. Our patient walked two major segments of the Camino Francés (French Way):

• Stage 1: From Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, France over the Pyrenees mountains to Roncesvalles, Spain — a 15-mile stretch completed in two days.
  
  
• Stage 2: From Sarria, Spain to Santiago de Compostela — an astonishing 72 miles in just five days.
  
  

That’s 139 kilometers in total — far surpassing the 100-kilometer minimum required to receive the coveted “Compostela” certificate of completion.

“Something I had been wanting to do for the last 10 years!” the patient wrote.

They proudly shared photos holding their “pilgrim passport”, a booklet stamped at cafes, hostels, and churches along the route to document their journey. Even more memorable was attending Mass at the Santiago Cathedral and witnessing the incense ceremony — a rare and spiritual experience for many pilgrims.

The Journey to Get There

This achievement becomes even more powerful when you hear what came before it.

Before surgery, the patient was struggling with severe arthritis, stiff joints, and significant mobility issues.

“Hard to walk… the surgery was a miracle. Never would have been able to make the trip without it.”

The turning point came during a move. As someone who typically liked to help with everything and stay active, they realized how difficult it had become to go up and down stairs — and decided it was time for a change.

They had both knees replaced in the summer of 2021, with the surgeries performed just six weeks apart. After the first surgery, they were back to normal within five weeks and ready for the second. Remarkably, this patient is a school bus driver and was able to return to work in time for the fall school year.

Preparation and Recovery

With the dream of walking the Camino on the horizon, they began preparing for the journey in November for a June departure. Training hikes were part of the process — and the results were inspiring.

“My knees felt fine during the hikes — no problem at all. I felt like I could walk forever. 10 or 15 miles a day. I could’ve walked farther!”

Words of Encouragement

For anyone hesitant about having knee replacement surgery, the patient offers this heartfelt advice:

“If your knees bother you and it’s arthritis — go for the surgery. You’ll be happier.”

This is more than a story about a successful operation — it’s a story about reclaiming independence, achieving long-held dreams, and living life fully again.

We are incredibly honored to have been part of this journey. Congratulations on your Camino — and thank you for inspiring all of us at Karas Orthopedics with your courage and spirit.

Engineer chooses robot-assisted knee replacement surgery

“I’m a full believer in technology,” says Howard Mickley, 70, of Arlington Heights. With a background in engineering, Mickley turned to science and research when he knew it was time for a knee replacement.

When arthritis began to make both knees painful, he pursued injections and continued this course of treatment for several years. However, he started to see diminishing returns from the injections. “I was a jogger for a while to maintain weight and health. But recently, I couldn’t walk around the block or walk up and down the stairs without pain,” he explains. “I knew it was just a matter of time before I had to have surgery.”

Research is key

So, he took to the internet to research knee replacement procedures and techniques. Along the way, he discovered robot-assisted knee replacement and liked what he read. “I had previously undergone prostate cancer surgery during which my surgeon used a robotic technique and I was pleasantly surprised with my outcome,” Mickley explains. “I reached a point in my research that someone would have to convince me not to have robot-assisted knee surgery.”

Mickley, with a goal to always have three data points when making any decison, visited three knee replacement surgeons. The third was Dr. Vasili Karas, whom he chose based upon a comment from a neighbor who underwent MAKO robot-assisted knee surgery and called it a ‘night and day difference’ from an earlier, traditional knee replacement surgery. During these physician visits, Mickley also learned that because his arthritis was limited to only a portion of his knee joints, he was a candidate for a partial knee replacement. Typically, a partial knee replacement means a shorter recovery and less pain than with a total knee replacement.

The right patient-surgeon fit

Mickley liked Dr. Karas right away and appreciated his experience in the MAKO partial knee replacement procedure. They discussed doing his left knee first and exactly how the procedure works. Briefly, the MAKO partial knee builds a 3D model of the patient’s anatomy prior to surgery with the use of a CT scan. The key components of the surgery are performed virtually prior to ever picking up a scalpel. Then, the patients individual ligaments are balanced using the robot in surgery. Finally, the bone in the knee is shaved down in the exact spots needed to place the partial knee replacement for the individual knee mechanics of the patient. They also discussed expected outcomes and any concerns Mickley had about undergoing surgery during the pandemic. Dr. Karas reassured him of the extreme safety protocols in use at Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush and all surgery locations. “Patients often ask what the whther they should wait for “the next best thing” to be discovered prior to having their knee replaced. The use of technology such as robotics to achieve optimal results on an individual patient basis is this paradigm shift in our profession.”

Enjoying today

Today, two months following surgery, Mickley is regularly walking up to three miles and doesn’t need any pain medication. He is able to kneel on the floor to play with his granddaughter and uses a rowing machine at home for indoor workouts. Physical therapy is helping him regain his strength and mobility.

Pain is starting to creep up in his right knee and Mickley is confident he has just the right treatment plan and physician to help him when it’s time for another knee surgery.

If travel was permitted I’m READY to do the Spanish Stairs again or have another wonderful trip with my family.

Beverly Country Club member after hip replacement: “It’s a miracle.”

For David Steadman, Age 71 and a 32-year member of the historic Beverly Country Club, playing for the first time at the recently restored club this spring was supposed to be a round to rememeber. 

He will indeed remember that round, but for a different reason. Hip pain and a limp limited him to just nine holes and a dependency on his cart. "I had to pull the golf cart closer to me just to manage," he explains. " I felt like I couldn't walk 10 steps."

Steadman, like many golfers and adults over 50, suffered from Osteoarthritis of the hip which cases pain due to the deterioration of cushioning between his hip joint's "ball and socket". 

" I retired last October and was looking forward to using the 50 rounds I had purchased in advancaed at a course in Florida," he said. " But pain overtook the pleasure of golf for me."

Time for a total hip replacement

Steadman decided enough was enough and sought advice from joint replacement speaclist Dr. Vasili Karas at Midwest Orthopedics at Rush. Upon a close exam of Steadman and after viewing imagined of his hip joint, Dr. Karas recommened a total joint replacement as soon as Steadman was ready. 

" Half of my friends have had a knee or hip replaced so I knew this was the way to go," Steadman says. 

Steadman underwent the surgery at Rush University Medical Center, which lasted about one hour, on a Friday and was surprised to be back home the following day. He was able to walk upstairs to go to bed that night and didn't need the walker he had purcharsed before the surgery. Sixteen days post-surgery he was outside bending and kneeling to work on his home's sprinkler system - and walking around the block.

Getting back to golf

" Every day I feel better," he said. It's really a miracle how fast I returned to feeling-pain free and normal." The best part he says, is that he is off pain medication which had become a part of his life. Today he only takes Tylenol as needed.

" Golfing has been a great thing for me in life," he said. "I'm really glad I got this done so I can get back to having fun again."