Medical Reports: Need for Knees

WSVN -- It's something you would never think you'd hear a surgeon say:

Dr. Barry: "A little over two years ago, I found out I could fix things without surgery."

Orthopedic Surgeon Patrick Barry has specialized in knee operations for almost 40 years.

That is, until he discovered a way to treat knee problems with his bare hands.

Dr. Barry: "First I couldn't believe this was working."

Dr. Barry now believes most knee pain is caused when the kneecap slides out of the groove it's supposed to glide in.

Dr. Barry: "It grates and grinds if it gets out of the groove. Many times it's because they have lost so much muscle that things don't work right in their knee."

He's found a way to manipulate the knee with his hands that puts the knee cap back into place.

Dr. Barry: "I do this by taking hold of the knee cap and maneuvering it into a better position and then stretching and over-stretching the things that are keeping it in a bad position."

It takes just minutes to do, and, generally, patients see results in three to six manipulations.

Dr. Barry: "Here you have no time loss from work, no complications."

Evelyn Castle-Zuback has suffered from knee pain for the last ten years.

Evelyn Castle-Zuback: "I have been through the gamut. I've run through knee surgery. I've had cortisone shots, physical therapy."

When her everyday activities became too painful, doctors told her she had one final option.

Evelyn Castle-Zuback: "That decision was a knee replacement, and I did not believe that was my only alternative."

She heard about Dr. Barry and decided to try his manipulation technique first. She got relief after just one treatment.

Evelyn Castle-Zuback: "When I left his office, I felt like I was walking on air."

Six manipulations later, she's back to the gym and back to life.

Evelyn: "No surgery. I love that."

Justo Hernandez is another believer. He hurt his knee in a skiing accident and was also told he needed surgery.

Justo Hernandez: "I had a lot of pain. I couldn't do anything."

After several manipulations, he's also back to an active lifestyle.

Justo Hernandez: "I don't have any pain, I can run, I can do my bike."

Justo Hernandez: "It's a lot better than having surgery."

Something even the surgeon is happy about.

Dr. Barry: "I get more hugs and kisses every week than I got in my first 40 years of surgery."

Most insurance companies will pay for this treatment. If not, the cost is just over $2,000 compared to $60,000 for a total knee replacement.