Back on Her Feet: Rosalie’s Journey to Pain-Free Living

At 80 years old, Rosalie Klemann has spent a lifetime staying active in her community in Vincennes, Indiana. But over time, something as small as her toe began to take that independence away.

“I was having a lot of pain in my toe,” she recalled. “It was affecting my walking and standing for long periods of time, and it was also very difficult to find shoes that would fit comfortably.”

What started as discomfort gradually became something more limiting. Her balance suffered, and eventually, she found herself relying on a cane at times just to get around. “My balance was really being affected from my hammer toes,” she said.

Encouraged by her primary care provider, Rosalie was referred for further evaluation. She already had someone in mind, a podiatrist she trusted.

“I chose Dr. Derek Besing because I feel like he’s a very highly-respected podiatrist. He’s very knowledgeable, and he is really a nice person. I really like him.”

From her very first visit at Good Samaritan Podiatry, Rosalie felt reassured. The experience stood out immediately—not just for the efficiency, but for the compassion.

“The office and his entire staff were very kind, professional, confident,” she said. “Dr. Besing took all the time in the world to explain what was happening, what needed to be done and what my recovery time would be like. I felt very confident.”

After additional testing at Good Samaritan, her hammer toe repair surgery was scheduled quickly—within just a couple of weeks. Surprisingly, Rosalie didn’t feel anxious going into the procedure. “I was not really nervous. I just wanted to get it done and feel better.”

On the day of surgery, she was met with the same level of care and attentiveness. “Everyone was just so nice and took such good care of both myself and my family.”

Her recovery proved to be smoother than she expected. After surgery, her pain was minimal—managed with something as simple as Tylenol. Within days, she was already following up with her care team, and within weeks, she began to notice meaningful changes.

“I now can wear regular shoes with no pain, walk as much as I want to,” she shared. “And I can also tell a great improvement in my balance.”

Looking back, Rosalie only wishes she hadn’t waited so long. “If anybody has hammer toes, don’t delay—go ahead and get the surgery. I wish I’d have done it years ago.”

Her experience left her not only pain-free, but deeply appreciative of the care she received close to home. “Knox County is very fortunate to have Good Samaritan. It’s a great, great asset to the community.”

For Rosalie, what began as a painful limitation became a story of restored mobility, renewed confidence, and compassionate care—right where she lives.

If you have hammer toes like Rosalie or other issues affecting your feet, our highly-skilled podiatry team can help. Call 812.882.3312 to schedule with Good Samaritan Podiatry. Click here to learn more about our services.