Bridger Orthopedic recently sat down with patient Mike Clark to share his powerful story of getting back to the active life he loves. In this featured YouTube video, Mike talks about how a simple short hike became a turning point: lingering pain in both knees sent him in for X-rays, which revealed extensive osteoarthritis. He realized that without intervention, everyday activities would only become more difficult.
Mike was no stranger to Bridger Orthopedic. In 2012, he had undergone a shoulder replacement with one of their surgeons and already trusted the level of care he would receive. When knee pain began limiting his life, a close friend—who had his knees and a hip replaced over several years by Dr. Stephan Gelbke—recommended that Mike see Dr. Gelbke as well. Seeing his friend return to a fully active lifestyle gave Mike confidence that he was in the right hands.
Under the care of Dr. Gelbke, Mike discovered that his situation was more extensive than he had anticipated. Though it wasn’t his original plan, he ultimately needed total replacements of both knees and both hips within a ten-month period. It was a major undertaking, but with careful surgical planning, skilled operative care, and coordinated follow-up physical therapy at Bridger Orthopedic, Mike moved through this challenging stretch of time with a clear goal in sight: getting his life back.
Today, Mike is pain-free and has resumed most of his routine activities. He continues to work on strengthening his legs and is looking forward to returning to fly fishing in the new year. Grateful for his outcomes, he says he would recommend Dr. Gelbke without reservation. For Mike, the combination of expert surgery, attentive staff, and dedicated physical therapy at Bridger Orthopedic hasn’t just replaced joints—it has restored his outlook for the future.