Three Surgeries In A Year Has This Woden Farmer Back To His Daily Work And Golf Game

January 17, 2023

Credits orthopedic surgeon Dr. Michael Crane for helping him feel ‘fantastic’

Mike Missman, 63, is a corn and soybean farmer in Woden, Iowa. “It’s a physical job. My left knee was giving me problems for many years. I felt unsteady on slippery ground in winter weather, and was in a lot of discomfort doing ‘grain climbs’ (walking up and down the stairs of the grain elevators). I was also favoring my right knee which started to bother me as well. In addition to my knees, my pinky and ring finger on my left hand and pinky and index finger on my right hand curled touching my palm. After awhile there were things that I couldn’t do with my hands including certain mechanical functioning with tools. My grip was not tight, which also affected my golf game,” said Mike.

Dupuytren contracture is the condition that was affecting Mike’s hands. It causes one or more fingers to bend toward the palm of the hand. The affected fingers can’t straighten completely. Knots of tissue form under the skin. They eventually create a thick cord that can pull the fingers into a bent position. Dupuytren contracture most often affects the two fingers farthest from the thumb. This can complicate everyday activities such as placing your hands in your pockets, putting on gloves or shaking hands.

Mike ended up having three surgeries over the course of a year; two on both hands (in 2021 and 2022), and a knee replacement for the severe arthritis in his left knee in December 2021. All three times his orthopedic surgeon was Dr. Michael Crane, at MercyOne North Iowa Orthopedics at Mason City Clinic.

“I had been seeing Dr. Crane for my knees for several years. When I started having knee pain I’d go to Dr. Crane and get a cortisone shot to keep the pain at bay at least temporarily. But in August 2021 it was time. After Dr. Crane looked at my x-ray he said jokingly, ‘Congratulations, you are now bone on bone’. So in December of 2021 I had my left knee replaced.

Said Mike, “I have developed a close professional relationship with Dr. Crane.  He is honest and right to the point. There is no fluff, and that is what I like.”

“After I had my hands operated on I went to the occupational therapist Cody Lafler three times. He is a wonderful person and therapist. He built me a plastic guard that I used to keep my hand straight. He removed my stitches and helped me with exercises.

A year later I feel fantastic. I can do anything I need to without awkwardness or pain. My hands are functional again. My knee rehab took awhile, but I did all of my physical therapy exercises and walked two – three times a week after my surgery. When Spring 2022 came around, I started feeling better. As my left knee got stronger, my right knee that I was favoring, felt fine again. I played golf all last summer.

Now I don’t remember how I felt with my knee pain. I don’t even think about it and that is the best part.”