Jennifer Matthews: Rob Michel's love for Harleys started young.
Rob Michel: I knew then I was born to cruise. I just love getting on the road and going.
Jennifer Matthews: But an accident at age 14 nearly killed him.
Rob Michel: I was riding my dad's Harley on the back. It was almost a whole year before I walked again.
Jennifer Matthews: His badly broken leg led to a lifetime of injuries. He finally had reconstructive knee surgery as an adult. The pain was awful, but the narcotics made him sick.
Rob Michel: I just gave up the medicine after a few days and just took the pain.
Jennifer Matthews: When Rob hurt his other knee while skiing, he couldn't bear the pain of getting it fixed again. Then, Doctor Jeff Swenson offered him a new pain relief option. Right before or after surgery, doctors use ultrasound images to safely and precisely thread a needle close to a nerve, without touching it. The nerve is then soaked with an anesthetic. A catheter and balloon pump pain relief to the nerve for two days as the patient recovers at home.
Jeff Swenson: The placement of nerve blocks with ultrasound guidance is going to be one of the most significant revolutions in anesthesia that has occurred in the last 20 or 30 years.
Jennifer Matthews: Rob had the procedure when he had his surgery last year.
Rob Michel: 100 percent better. I mean, it was just, I wouldn't be afraid of going back in for another surgery.
Jennifer Matthews: But he's not planning on it. He's back on the road and hopes he's left his injuries in the dust. This is Jennifer Matthews reporting.
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