Izabella suffered from intense knee pain for years and her day-to-day life diminished dramatically. Like Izabella, many of us keep the mentality that over time things will get better, as it usually does, but healthcare issues should always be addressed.
Izabella was a very active 51-year-old. She enjoyed aerobics, Yoga, Zumba, a range of exercises and skiing. Around 5 years ago Izabella was enjoying a family holiday on the slopes. Although there was no ‘injury’ as such, skiing in any capacity is hard work and Izabella’s knees took a great toll during this time and shortly afterwards she developed relentless pain and swelling.
An MRI scan confirmed a tear of her lateral meniscus, and therefore later in 2018 Izabella ended up having an arthroscopy of her knee over at The Rivers Hospital in Hertfordshire, and Izabella’s lateral meniscus was trimmed. Although the recovery was quick, she was still experiencing ongoing pain.
Izabella was struggling with walking too long or too fast. If she tried to dance, then her right knee became painful and the joint swelled up. Izabella was experiencing symptoms from dull aches to sudden onset of sharp pain around the lateral side. The usual activities Izabella did in her everyday life were now too painful. She used to enjoy long two-hour dog walks over rough terrain, tending to her garden and the usual housework, as well as any type of cardio exercise which agonised her knee shortly after, leaving her almost immobile for the rest of the day.
Izabella was living in a nightmare and did not want her life to be on hold any longer and she sought out Mr McDermott. After updated scans, a full assessment and carefully explaining the pros and cons of surgery, Izabella agreed and was booked in for a Conformis custom total knee replacement.
Fast-forward to 2023, Izabella is now around 10 weeks post-op. Her experience at London Bridge Hospital was fantastic. She told us the hospital was clean, airy, comfortable and was simply amazing. From the nursing staff to the cleaners – she couldn’t have asked for more. Initially after her procedure she was in a lot of pain but remained very optimistic and was ready to get back to reality. Izabella explained “Mr McDermott was very professional all the way, very reassuring, knowledgeable and caring even when I was doubting my recovery at times because of my impatience, but everything started to get better.”
The post-operative recovery is where the hard work started and Izabella was more motivated than ever. She said “Even if you don’t feel like doing the stretches and exercises, you have to persevere. I saw radical improvements as the weeks went by. But week 2-3 was the hardest”
At 10 weeks post op her pain has mostly gone away, she does not need painkillers, not even overnight. Her life is now returning back to normal, she can do anything she likes now…within reason!
Izabella is back to exercising every day, walking her dog, doing housework and tending to her lovely garden.
She said her greatest freedom is that she can go for a walk and not experience any joint pain during or after.
She is excited for her life and we are too!