Patient Stories
Outpatient Knee Replacement in Chicago: Ezell Smith Is 75 Pounds Lighter and Pain-Free
Date posted: 8/10/2026
Last updated: 8/10/2026
Table of Contents
A Chicago Case Worker's Struggle with Chronic Knee Pain
Ezell Smith, 55, of Chicago, works as a case worker at the Cook County Juvenile Detention Center. He has worked with inner-city youth throughout his career and relies on his ability to positively impact at-risk kids. He admits that this can be difficult while living in pain.
His pain journey began five years ago when, as an active cyclist and weighted vest walker, his left knee began to feel strange.
“My knee felt like it was locking up and popping out of alignment,” Ezell explains.
Over the next several years, his knee issue got progressively worse, eventually becoming a throbbing pain that greatly reduced his ability to walk comfortably. He put on unwelcome weight, eventually gaining more than 100 pounds. An X-ray showed that he was very close to bone-on-bone in his knee. He began to limp.
Trying Everything Before Considering Knee Replacement Surgery
Ezell tried everything he could think of, regardless of his insurance company's willingness to reimburse. He experimented with gel shots and platelet-rich-plasma injections. He visited orthopedic surgeons and pain clinics. He spent a lot of money out-of-pocket.
“None of it was working,” Ezell admits. “And I was still very reluctant to have knee replacement surgery.”
In addition to knee pain, he began to develop hip pain, back pain, and plantar fasciitis in his foot.
Finding Dr. Richard Berger for Minimally Invasive Knee Replacement
One day, as he was leaving work and walking to his car, he bumped into a co-worker who was also walking with a limp. They chatted about their shared disability, and his co-worker told him that she planned to visit Dr. Richard Berger, a minimally invasive joint replacement surgeon at Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush in Chicago. She shared Dr. Berger's educational videos and encouraged Ezell to consider seeing him too.
Ezell conducted his research, liked Dr. Berger's outpatient, minimally invasive approach, and thought it was worth a visit to his office in Chicago.
“Dr. Berger and his team are some of the best healthcare providers I have ever had,” he says. “They showed professionalism, consistency, were always available for my questions, and were very attentive to me and my knee. It was a no-brainer to agree to surgery. I felt that I had discovered the life raft to get out of my pain.”
Once he agreed to surgery, Ezell was also impressed with the preparation and information that Dr. Berger's team provided.
“It didn't feel like an assembly line,” he says.
What to Expect from Outpatient Total Knee Replacement Recovery
Ezell underwent a successful total knee replacement by Dr. Berger at Rush University Medical Center. Upon waking from anesthesia, the care team had him standing up and walking, all part of the recovery process.
He was discharged to go home the very same day and was given pain medication to take if needed. He was instructed to elevate, rest, and ice his knee. To his amazement, he never took any pain medication.
“Dr. Berger and his team impressed upon me the importance of following the rehab protocol and assured me that if I did, I would see excellent results,” Ezell says. “I must admit that I have never been good at following doctor's orders before this. But I was committed this time.”
Shortly after his knee replacement procedure, Ezell's knee and other affected body parts were pain-free. Dr. Berger's team explained that his body had been compensating for the knee condition, which was causing his other symptoms. Once the knee was treated, his body reverted to normal.
Pain-Free and Living Life to the Fullest After Knee Replacement
“Seeing patients like Mr. Smith return to the activities they love is one of the most rewarding parts of what we do,” explains Dr. Berger. “From the first office visit through recovery, our goal is to provide exceptional care, education, and support every step of the way. His success is a wonderful example of what can be achieved through a partnership between a dedicated care team and a motivated patient.”
Since surgery, Ezell has been walking distances and has lost 75 pounds. He and his wife have resumed their love of vacations and have trips planned to Mexico, Arizona, Nashville, and Florida.
