From Pain to Possibility: How One Patient Found Relief Without Surgery 

For Melynda Caelwaerts, life had become a balancing act between managing chronic pain and staying active for her family. Rheumatoid arthritis, a previous shoulder surgery, and extra weight were already challenging enough. Then came the news: she needed knee surgery. 

“They would like me to have the knee stabilizing surgery, but I was like, ‘I’ll do anything but to have another surgery,’” Caelwaerts recalled. 

After a difficult experience with rotator cuff surgery, Melynda was determined to avoid the operating room. She committed to physical therapy for more than a year, strengthening muscles and doing everything she could to reduce inflammation. Still, the pain persisted. 

“I was going in every few months and getting large amounts of fluid taken out of it, and I was like, ‘I don’t know why it would still have so much fluid, I really think I need to lose weight,’” she said. 

Her care team at Aurora BayCare Medical Center suggested a new approach: GLP-1 medication—a treatment originally developed for diabetes but now making waves in weight management. 

“They mimic a hormone we already make in our gut,” explained Laura Gintner, a physician assistant. “They help increase fullness and target appetite centers in the brain, which reduces hunger and cravings.” 

Skeptical at first, Melynda agreed to try weekly GLP-1 injections combined with a structured plan to track food, activity, and sleep. The results were life-changing: she lost more than 100 pounds, reduced knee inflammation, and regained her mobility. Today, she’s off the medication and focused on maintaining her progress. 

Gintner emphasizes that GLP-1 medications are more than a quick fix—they address the biology behind obesity. 

“These medications aren’t giving people willpower, they’re treating a biological issue,” Gintner said. “I think the more we understand about the complexity of obesity, the better we can treat it and help people long-term with an issue that’s really a chronic disease, versus just a ‘fix it and forget it’ type of scenario.” 

For Melynda, the transformation has been profound. 

“I can run and keep up with my kids… I have lots of energy back and no pain,” she said. 

Interested in learning more about physical therapy and weight management programs at Aurora BayCare? Visit Weight Management Services | Aurora Health Care 

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