Former Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims turned to Dr. Matthew Simons, an orthopedic surgeon at Sierra Pacific Orthopedics, for relief from knee pain.

For many, the road to recovery after surgery can be long and challenging, especially when factoring in the balance of work, home life, recreation and personal health. For years, former Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims experienced such pain scaling stairs or simply stepping off the curb.

She said her knee pain eventually risked affecting her ability to perform her duties as Sheriff.

Then she met Dr. Matthew Simons.

Simons, an orthopedic surgeon at Sierra Pacific Orthopedics who specializes in knee and hip replacement surgeries, said Mims’ knee pain is a struggle many in the workforce face, and unfortunately, put off too long.

“I had struggled with knee pain for many years,” Mims shared. “It got so bad I finally made the appointment and was referred to Dr. Simons. I’m really glad I did.”

Mims’ knee issues eventually escalated to the point where they caused her back pain and other issues, leading her to seek assistance in 2019.

“I was becoming really bow-legged; my knees were just giving out,” she said. After surgery in 2019, Mims experienced a life-changing recovery. “Being able to maneuver stairs, ramps, and other elevation changes without pain was a blessing, especially in my job.”

Something that Mims’ credits with her speedy and effective recovery — the doctor-patient connection between herself and Simons.

“It’s the center of it all,” Simons said. “Particularly in my experience, where there’s a known problem.”

Simons said that specializing in arthritis and joint repair, when he sees patients, he typically knows what the problem is related to, but added that he feels the need to communicate everything to the patients in clear terms.

Mims’ had both knees replaced six weeks apart beginning in April 2019, returning to work by September of the same year.

Simons said her recovery was extremely efficient.

“She actually did remarkably well,” he said, adding that full recovery typically takes up to a year. Despite the year-long recovery, Simons said many of his patients are back to regular function after three months, spending the remaining nine months of recovery strengthening the healing joint.

“By September she was back at work continuing as the sheriff at the time,” he said. “That’s an ideal result; that’s what we’re pretty much trying to get every patient.”

Simons and Mims both stressed the importance of early treatment, with Mims acknowledging that in her role as Fresno County Sheriff, she felt the need to maintain an appearance of confidence that delayed her seeking treatment; her procedure, however, gave her the confidence and health she needed to remain in her elected role in the department until her retirement in 2022.

For Mims, the seamless coordination between Dr. Simons’ team and physical therapists made her recovery smoother and faster. “Everything worked so smoothly, and as a busy person, I truly appreciated the efficiency.”