What Patients Say: Smith & Nephew Accuris

Patient R.B., age 55

I have had back issues since 1988 from a fall, not bad though. I had been having a pain across my left thigh through my knee to my foot. So I was going to a chiropractor. Which this did seem to help. Last spring the pain was getting much worse. It came to a point I couldn’t bend my knee without pain. Which finally got so bad I couldn’t bend it. So we focused on my back with a MRI. Did not reveal the pain I was having. We then x-rayed my left knee. Showed nothing. Then a MRI which showed my problem. Dr. Bartlett did a partial replacement on 7-15-09. After weeks of PT, today (2-28-10) my left knee has as much motion as my right. I do kneel on it with a cushion on hard surfaces. Feeling is slowly coming back. I do feel I can almost do whatever I want to. I feel Dr. Bartlett did a great job. I thank Jim Todd PT for his recommendation.

Patient D.W., age 54

I first experienced arthritis pain in my left knee in autumn, 2005. I bicycled often, so I attributed the pain to overexertion, but soon realized that the problem was not muscular. My doctor recommended physical therapy, which I undertook. I faithfully performed the exercises and obtained minor relief. I took ibuprofin for pain.

Throughout 2006, the condition worsened, and I began noticeably limping. I'm overweight, and as my doctor pointed out, the extra pounds stressed the joint. I lost 20 pounds, but I'm still 50 pounds overweight. My ibuprofin intake was dramatically increased to control pain.

During 2007, X-rays and other imaging tests showed bone-on-bone in the knee joint. Pain was continuous and I no longer had any "good" days. My twice-daily walks with my English bulldog were increasingly difficult, and I could no longer enjoy recreational walking or hiking. I also had difficulty carrying something as ordinary as a basket of laundry up and down the stairs. In fact, stairs became increasingly troublesome throughout the year, and I could no longer ascend and descend normally, but had to take the steps one at a time.

Knee pain also caused sleeplessness. Every time I turned over at night, I woke up. I also had difficulty sleeping on my left side due to my bad left knee. Needless to say, bad sleep interferes with enjoying life, productivity at work, and other aspects of health.

My New Year's resolution for 2008 was to get my knee taken care of. I sought recommendations from friends, and met several surgeons. John Matthews, a member of the WPS board of directors, recommended Dr. Bartlett. My husband and I were strongly impressed with Dr. Bartlett's attention to me and his willingness to try a partial knee replacement after a careful evaluation of my condition. Two other surgeons had advised that total knee replacement was the only option they would consider.

To prepare for surgery and to speed recovery, Dr. Bartlett urged me to undergo physical therapy at the Sport and Spine Clinic. I followed his advice, and started PT three months ahead of my December surgery date. I worked hard to build the quadriceps muscle and increase the flexibility of my left leg. I also got training on use of a cane. I attended a helpful pre-surgery informational class at Meriter Hospital that outlined the recovery process.

The surgery went well, and, as anticipated, Dr. Bartlett was able to implant the partial knee replacement. My hospital stay was uneventful, and my pain was well-controlled with medication. The hospital PT staff assisted me with use of a walker and with flexibility exercises. I was very fortunate that my husband and daughter could be with me the first two weeks after the hospital discharge. I was able to concentrate on my recovery by sleeping when I wanted to, doing the prescribed exercises, and following the medication schedule. I started physical therapy within 3 weeks of the operation, and appreciated the skill and encouragement of the therapists.

I used a walker for about three weeks, then used a cane for about another month. I returned to work full time 5 weeks after surgery. 

One year later, I walk and take the stairs normally (including carrying a basket of laundry!). I also have the flexibility to kneel, helpful for gardening and dog grooming. I also rake, shovel snow, and carry groceries. I walk at least 30 minutes a day, bicycle in the summer, and also use an exercise bicycle and weights at the gym.

In the summer of 2009, my new knee performed superbly when I took a trip to Paris. I had no pain on the eight-hour flight to France, and had complete flexibility upon landing. I then spent ten to twelve hours a day on my feet as I walked, climbed the stairs of the Metro, and visited museums and galleries. My legs were tired at the end of the day, but they held up beautifully. The only body part to really suffer were my feet!

I find myself echoing the sentiment of many knee replacement patients with whom I've talked: I shouldn't have waited so long to go ahead with the surgery. If I ever experience trouble with the other knee, I will go ahead with replacement immediately, other aspects of my health permitting.