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Patient TestimonialDon, ADVANCE® Medial-Pivot Knee Recipient (Minimally-invasive knee surgery)
Don, a 49-year-old computer infrastructure supervisor,
is preparing for a trip he calls "audacious." Don plans to
climb Africa's Mount Kilimanjaro in September 2005, an adventure that seemed
inconceivable just five months ago.
Don had always been active and would not accept his physical limitation.
He was treated for his condition and soon regained his mobility. Don eagerly
returned to his workout routine, and in no time, was running several miles
a day. However, over the next 12 years, his active lifestyle took an unexpected
toll on his body. (Don always ran in the same direction, on an angle, with
improper running shoes that caused the cartilage in his left knee to gradually
wear down.) Don eventually resorted to taking high doses of pain killers every
day. Realizing this was not the ideal solution, he ultimately went to see
orthopedic surgeon Dr. Robert Hagen. Arthroscopic surgery bought him some
time, but after a brief hike on a Hawaiian volcano, pain and soreness again
left him virtually immobile. After yet another arthroscopic surgery, Don had
almost no cartilage left and opted to have a total knee replacement. In May 2004, Don received the ADVANCE® Medial-Pivot Total Knee System. The total knee replacement allows greater movement and flexibility for patients. The patented design is similar to the natural knee's ball-and-socket design and mimics the body's natural ability to twist the knee slightly side to side. With the ADVANCE® Medial-Pivot Total Knee System, Don would not have to worry about future complications. Don experienced an excellent recovery and was on his feet the very next day. "I didn't feel any pain after surgery and only felt unstable for a couple of days," Don said. "I was able to move without the help of crutches and went home soon after surgery!"
His recovery included physical therapy for about six weeks, and today Don is living pain-free. Don is now facing the challenge of a lifetime. In September 2005, Don will set out to climb Mount Kilimanjaro.
When asked why he would attempt such a task, Don's answer is simple. He is so happy with the results of his surgery he wants to demonstrate that life isn't over after knee replacement. He wants to tell others that they, too, can be active again if they choose the right options. Don wants to feel young again and doesn't want to feel less capable just because he's undergone a replacement surgery. What seemed so unthinkable just five months ago has become Don's next mission. Today, Don feels he can accomplish anything with his knee. Because of the ADVANCE® Medial-Pivot Total Knee System, Don has a renewed lease on life. He now makes better decisions and eats healthy, preparing for the 42 mile hike up Mount Kilimanjaro. While the task will be a challenge, he feels he can walk that trail just as well as anyone. Don has already achieved his goal of showing people that his life isn't over. "I wanted to gain back my longevity and lifestyle," Don said. "I have definitely reached that goal with my new knee. I have no limitations and don't worry any more about things I used to just wish I could do … because now I can!"
These results are specific to this individual only. Individual results and activity levels after surgery vary and depend on many factors including age, weight and prior activity level.
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About 23 years ago, Don started to feel sharp, unbearable pains in his muscles. He saw his mobility diminishing each day and soon had to give up the activities he enjoyed most, including his passion of working out. The pain eventually attacked his arms and legs; even moving his jaw became difficult. Don finally went to see a doctor. After several misdiagnoses, he was finally diagnosed with polymyositis, a disease in which the immune system spontaneously attacks the muscles. At 26, Don was virtually immobile and was on the brink of giving up.
