Kentucky Residents Travel to Parkwest for Shoulder Surgery and Pain Relief

A Kentucky mayor, a sheriff, a dentist and a postal worker walk into a doctor’s office in Tennessee.

It may sound like the setup for a bad joke, but what brought these real-life Kentuckians to Parkwest Medical Center in Knoxville, Tennessee, was no laughing matter. Each needed relief from chronic shoulder pain and came to receive medical care from orthopedic surgeon Justin Kennon, MD.

Parkwest is a leader in orthopedic procedures, restoring mobility and quality of life to patients from across the region. Technology, skill, experience and compassion are an unbeatable combination when a person is shouldering a burden of hurt.

Retired Dentist Has Reverse Total Shoulder Replacement

Dr. Kerry Woolum is a recently retired dentist who lives in Bell County, Kentucky. He has developed a passion for fishing since stepping away from full-time work. Adapting his fishing to accommodate his shoulder pain was bad enough, but eventually even changing clothes afterward became an impossible task. Enough was enough.

“I couldn’t get my pants up,” he says. “I couldn’t do anything with the pain.”

Dr. Woolum had already been to Parkwest Medical Center for two knee replacements. He cast an eye toward Tennessee again after his knee surgeon recommended an appointment with Dr. Kennon, an expert in shoulder surgery.

“Shoulder pain and joint dysfunction can take away the quality of life you enjoy and the activities that make life worth living,” Dr. Kennon says, “but you don’t have to live with that pain.”

Skilled in both minimally invasive procedures and more complex shoulder replacements, Dr. Kennon uses the latest technology and advanced imaging to give each patient the best care possible. He trained under world-class surgeons at the renowned Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, before returning to Knoxville to share his knowledge and expertise at Parkwest.

Using 3D technology, Dr. Kennon performed a custom reverse total shoulder replacement at Parkwest. The 3D imaging provides detailed views of the affected area before surgery for personalized surgical planning.

Reverse shoulder replacement changes the natural position of the shoulder joint so the deltoid muscle can do the work of the damaged rotator cuff. It’s especially helpful for people with severe shoulder arthritis or large rotator cuff tears that can’t be fixed any other way.

“It’s fantastic,” Dr. Woolum says today. “I can do anything I want. I’m back fishing without any problem.”

Dr. Woolum encouraged others in Bell County to seek out Dr. Kennon and Parkwest. That’s why Pineville mayor Scott Madon and Bell County sheriff Mitch Williams also decided to travel to Tennessee.

Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Surgery Restores Abilities for Sheriff and Mayor

Sheriff Williams has many responsibilities in law enforcement, but he was in so much pain that he couldn’t manage one of the most basic.

“I could not draw my gun from my holster,” the sheriff explains. “I was in constant pain and couldn’t position my arm in any position that helped.”

But arthroscopic rotator cuff surgery helped him “draw down” on shoulder pain. After a minimally invasive procedure to repair rotator cuff tears, Sheriff Williams says the pain is gone and his mobility is restored. Outside his law enforcement work, he notes that he can now throw a ball with his son, something he couldn’t do before his surgery.

“I highly recommend Dr. Kennon and Parkwest,” Sheriff Williams says. “Parkwest was professional in every way.”

Mayor Madon’s pain before surgery wasn’t just uncomfortable. At times, it was excruciating.

“I couldn’t lift hardly anything without a tremendous amount of pain. I could never lay on my shoulder at night,” Madon says. “On a scale of 1 to 10, my pain level was 100.”

“I am fully recovered and back to doing everything I was doing before I ever injured my shoulder,” he says. The procedure was his second surgery at Parkwest, so Madon now considers himself a “Parkwest family member for life.”

Rotator Cuff Repair Provides Immediate Relief for Postal Worker

Nancy Grubb, a postal worker in Bell County, also turned to Dr. Kennon after dealing with months of stabbing shoulder pain. The pain affected her day-to-day life and kept her from getting a good night’s rest.

“It kept me up almost all night,” she says. Grubb was hesitant to seek medical help, trying first to manage the pain with over-the-counter medicines. When nothing else worked, Dr. Kennon performed a rotator cuff repair procedure that delivered immediate relief.

“You don’t know how much you miss being able to raise your arm up until you can’t,” Grubb says. “It was so good to be able to put my shirt on without bending over or even to be able to dry my hair again.”

Grubb was so impressed with Dr. Kennon’s care that she recommended him to her husband, who also had successful shoulder surgery.

Spreading the Word After Successful Shoulder Surgeries

For these Kentucky residents, traveling to Parkwest Medical Center in Knoxville was definitely worth the trip. Thanks to Dr. Kennon and the team at Parkwest, they’ve all been able to get back to their normal lives.

“Dr. Kennon is down to earth and helps you to understand exactly what to expect while going through the process,” Sheriff Williams says.

“I would highly recommend Dr. Kennon, and I do regularly tell people about him [if they] tell me they have shoulder issues,” says Madon. “Both of my surgeries, my doctors, the facilities, the nurses and surgical staff were absolutely awesome.”

As Dr. Woolum puts it, “Everybody was first class.” Grubb agrees and sees Dr. Kennon and Parkwest as a blessing.

“I have already told so many people about him,” Grubb says. “We thank God we were able to find someone to help us.”

Dr. Kennon is passionate about research and technology, becoming the first surgeon in East Tennessee to use Guided Personalized Surgery (GPS navigation technology) for shoulder replacement. He is committed to developing customized plans for each patient’s lifestyle. Dr. Kennon also specializes in hip and elbow surgeries, bicep tendonitis treatment, labral tear surgery and fracture care.

Orthopedics at Parkwest

Parkwest Medical Center is a leader in orthopedic services in East Tennessee and beyond. Known for advanced technology and patient care excellence, Parkwest offers a comprehensive range of orthopedic procedures:

· Joint Replacement — Parkwest is nationally recognized for its expertise in knee and hip replacements, using advanced techniques to restore mobility and reduce pain for patients.

· Fracture Repair – Skilled surgeons provide comprehensive care for fractures, ensuring precise alignment and faster recovery.

· Arthroscopic Surgery – This minimally invasive procedure allows for quick recovery from joint issues.

Parkwest uses cutting-edge tools like robotics and advanced imaging for the most effective treatments. Parkwest surgeons can offer patients safer procedures, faster recoveries and better overall outcomes.

Learn more by visiting the Parkwest website or ask your doctor for more information.