Nancy's Story

Nancy, 60, is a native New Yorker who has lived over 25 years in Hawaii. She describes herself as “full of energy and a person with a wonderful zest for life.” This positive attitude has carried her throughout her life – even when the pain of osteoarthritis in both knees began wearing away her ability to do many of her favorite activities, such as exercising, dancing, walking on the beach and enjoying a dip in the ocean.

“A full six years before my surgery, any doctor who saw my X-rays wondered aloud how I was continuing to function,” Nancy says. “There was no cartilage in either knee, and my right knee was becoming deformed – not to mention the incredible pain I was in.”

While Nancy’s positive outlook kept her going, unfortunately it couldn’t stop her mobility from declining. Nancy says one of her worst moments was when she realized she needed two friends to hold her up while walking on the beach. Going into the ocean was also a frightening experience. “I had no traction in the water, and I was afraid of falling and hurting myself,” Nancy says.

To cope with the pain she was experiencing, Nancy had cortisone injections in her knees twice over a period of six years. Still, she felt her ability to function normally was slipping away. “I couldn’t dance. I couldn’t shop for more than 10 or 15 minutes without having to sit down. I needed wheelchair assistance at the airport. My mind still felt young, but my body was telling a completely different story,” Nancy says.

Nancy says watching the quality of her life diminish was what ultimately made her decide to speak to a doctor about joint replacement surgery. “I couldn’t wait any longer,” Nancy explains.

Because arthritis had eroded the cartilage in both knees, Nancy was a candidate for bilateral knee replacement surgery. She knew the pain of the surgery and the recovery period would be challenging, so Nancy chose to have both knee joints replaced at the same time.

Nancy and her surgeon discussed the benefits and risks of the surgery, including the potential for a return to an active lifestyle, with less pain and greater mobility. Her surgeon also cautioned Nancy that the procedure is a major one.

Following her surgery in August 2005, Nancy spent 10 days undergoing intensive rehabilitation and physical therapy. And while she experienced pain following the surgery, Nancy says it was remarkable how quickly she was able to progress. “Seven days following the operation, I was able to let go of my walker and stand on my own,” Nancy says. “What a miracle!”

Four weeks after her surgery, Nancy was able to dance the Charleston in front of her doctor, with a little help. “I told him I would be his poster gal for knee replacements, and three months after the surgery, he confirmed it,” Nancy says.

Nancy says that fully committing to physical therapy was an important part of the recovery process. “You have to do your physical exercises every day, even if it hurts. No one else can do them for you,” Nancy says. She also found comfort in water aerobics, both before and after her surgery. “In the water you’re weightless, so there is no impact on your knees. This was my saving grace,” Nancy says.

Following the surgery, Nancy says the most poignant moment of her life was getting off a plane and walking to those waiting for her at the airport. “I had tears in my eyes,” Nancy says. “There’s no way I could have done that before the surgery.”

Today, Nancy says she can “walk for hours, shop to my heart’s content, dance as long as I want, and go to the beach and into the ocean without concern. I’m independent again!” Nancy says. “It was a tough journey, but I’d repeat it again in a heartbeat.”

Has your life been touched by joint replacement surgery? Please take a few minutes now to share your story.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
As with any medical treatment, individual results may vary. Only an orthopaedic surgeon can determine whether an orthopaedic implant is an appropriate course of treatment. There are potential risks, and recovery takes time. The performance of the new joint depends on weight, activity level, age, and other factors.

Last Updated: 06/11/2009