Knee Pain Can't Keep Dancer Off the Stage

Local high school dancer, Naja DayeLocal high school dancer, Naja Daye, was experiencing unexplained knee pain. Initially, her family thought it might be from a hit or fall. Naja and her mother visited many doctors to try to identify the issue, and were referred to Dr. Brian Waterman and our Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine specialists for their expertise with sports injuries and cartilage restoration.

Dr. Waterman identified the condition as osteochondritis dissecans. This is a common condition in the knee, and in Naja’s case, required a minimally invasive surgical repair. “Having surgery was pretty scary at first, but they helped me through it and told me what to expect and what recovery would be like. The entire team really helped calm our fears and I felt at ease.” said Naja.

“We felt very comfortable with Dr. Waterman and his team. He had great online reviews and was so friendly, transparent, and informative. He really talked to us and showed us what was going on, explained our different options, and made sure we understood.” said Naja’s mother.

After her surgery, Naja completed physical therapy and the pain was completely gone. “If I could offer advice to other parents, it would be to trust Dr. Waterman and his team. They know what they are doing and it’ll work out!” 

Now, Naja is getting back to dancing, hiking, and going on adventures with her family again.

To learn more about our expert Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine services, or schedule a same- or next-day appointment, call 336-716-WAKE (9253).