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Gwen M. – Sugeon used  VERILAST Technology From Smith & Nephew

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Gwen M.
RESIDENCE: Pomfret, Maryland
OCCUPATION / INTEREST: Biking, Hking, Working in her garden and Family activities
DATE OF SURGERY: February 2011
JOINT: Right Knee
IMPLANT: VERILAST Technology
ORTHOPEDIST: Gregg Ferrero, MD
16 North La Plata Court
P.O. Box 2188
La Plata, MD 20646
(301) 392-3330
www.capitalareaortho.com

Decades of osteoarthritis in her knees caught up with Gwen, 64, around 2003 when “the joints wore out.” Unfortunately, Gwen’s healthcare options were delayed until 2007 when she was referred to her orthopaedic surgeon. Fortunately, he understood Gwen’s desire to resume a normal life and recommended arthroplasty using the OXINIUM™ knee with VERILAST™ Technology from Smith & Nephew.

“He said it would last for years and that I could run again,” Gwen says. “I can’t run hundreds of miles a year like I did in the 90s, but I can run.” She’s also back to biking, hiking and working up a sweat in her garden. “Two days ago, I pushed a fully loaded wheelbarrow with a half-flat wheel up a hill and right through some really thick zoysia grass!”

Gwen’s knee surgeries in 2008 and 2011 provided an unexpected benefit: fixing a discrepancy in her joints caused by childhood polio. Now she has “matched knees for the first time in my life. My knees go together and can touch.”

Gwen began preparing for her recent surgery by “following the recommended postop exercises to strengthen the leg in advance.” After surgery, she committed fully to following her therapists’ direction through two weeks of in-home therapy and four weeks at an outpatient rehab center.

“You really have to work the leg,” Gwen says. “I noticed a lot of people would just do what they had to do, but you have to work hard in the beginning. The reward is, the pain will go away.” Because of her previous health history, Gwen’s therapists utilized electrodes to stimulate the nerves and “recreate the path of signals to the brain,” which Gwen believes greatly aided her recovery.

Gwen is back to enjoying family activities with her two children and seven grandchildren, and planning a special trip with her husband. “My goal is to hike the Appalachian Trail. We have our tents, backpacks. All we need to do is have the time.” Noting that the Trail is over 2,000 miles long, Gwen laughs and says, “I’m now so happy I can walk. And no pain!”

Note from Manufacturer

This patient story is not intended as medical advice. There are potential risks with knee replacement surgery such as loosening, fracture, dislocation, wear and infection that may result in the need for additional surgery. The results and physical activities of this patient may not be representative of the results and physical activities that you may experience following surgery. Do not perform high impact activities such as running and jumping unless your surgeon tells you the bone has healed and these activities are acceptable. Early device failure (breakage or loosening may occur if you do not follow your surgeon’s limitations on activity level. Early failure can happen if you do not guard your knee joint from overloading due to activity level, failure to control body weight, or accidents such as falls. Knee replacement surgery is intended to relieve knee pain and improve knee function. Talk to your doctor to determine what treatment may be best for you. Additional information is provided at www.smith-nephew.com.

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