Robotic technology is changing how doctors perform surgery on patients and one central Georgia hospital is showing off its new procedure for helping people with severe knee pain.

"So far, all of my tests show I'm in need of knee surgery. Portions of my knees have collapsed," said Brenda Harvill of Milledgeville.

The technology behind the robotic arm procedure will help her walk again but without the pain.

"If it wasn't for the pain medicine that I'm on now, I wouldn't be able to walk at all," said Harvill.

She attended a demonstration of the procedure with her daughter, Kim Jackson at the Medical Center of Central Georgia.

"She has always been an active person and in the last couple of years she has slowed down," said Jackson.

Dr. Robert Thornsberry shows how MAKOplasty, powered by a robotic arm can help patients like Harvill. It is a partial knee resurfacing technique used to treat osteoarthritis.

"The most impressive thing that you get is the precision with the robot. We do the surgery on the C.T. scan and the robot keeps you from changing course or deviating from that pattern. If you deviate from that, the machine will cut off," said Thornsberry.

He knows first hand how well the surgery can work.

"I had surgery on both of my knees about five weeks ago and I had this same procedure done."

He says the technology improves recovery time to speed up rehabilitation. That is something Harvill says she is looking forward to.

"That's my goal to walk again and be free of pain. We have 9 grandchildren and that's my goal too, to be with them and do things with them."

The Medical Center of Central Georgia is the first in the area to perform robotic arm guided knee surgery.

Thornsberry says the machine recognizes tiny reflective cameras placed near the knee to remove damaged tissue.