Knee Replacement Lets This Educator Enjoy Quality Time With Family and Friends
Surgery allowed her to reach her goals
(Editor’s note: This content is provided by DePuy Synthes, a Next Avenue sponsor.)
Renee Yahara of Wildwood, N.J. lived an active lifestyle filled with sports, walks along the beach, regular workouts and outings with friends.
Despite how much Yahara loved to do each of these activities when she wasn’t working in the guidance office at a local high school, she knew that doing any of them for an extended period of time would result in severe knee pain the rest of the day and well into the next.
“I would be able to be physically active for about an hour or so, and then after that I was just lying on the couch in pain, and in pain the next day,” Yahara said. “It came to a point where I wasn't doing the things I enjoyed doing because I knew what the consequences were going to be afterward.”
Yahara’s physical limitations took a toll on her personal life and barred her from spending quality time with close family and friends.
“My husband and I used to work out together, so when I wasn't playing tennis, he couldn't play, or he wasn't going to the gym when I wasn't going to the gym,” she said. “My friends would also call and ask us to do different things. Most of the time I would have to tell them no because I knew that I wouldn't be able to get out and dance. I didn't want to watch other people while I just sat there.”
Fighting the pain was a constant battle for Yahara as she underwent several procedures to try and take the pain away. None of these treatments ended up being a permanent solution.
“I had three arthroscopic surgeries, where they would go in and clean out my knee,” she said. “After the third time, they said there wasn't any more they could do.”
From that point forward, Yahara started receiving cortisone shots.
“Most people get cortisone shots every three to six months. I was getting them every month,” she explained. “That's when my doctor told me that I really needed to talk to a surgeon.”
After 10 years of worsening pain, Yahara weighed her options and decided what mattered to her most was to return to the lifestyle she loves.
“What drove me to surgery was how much I like doing things on the weekends with my children, my family and my husband,” she said. “I like to play tennis. We like to go dancing. We like to clam. All of that stuff requires you to use your knees and your legs.”
Yahara and her doctor decided surgery and the ATTUNE® Knee System could allow her to reach her goals – and they were right.
After surgery, Yahara set her sights on recovery. She knew returning to work and being able to fully participate in her upcoming family vacation were important to her as she entered this next chapter of her life. She was devoted to doing the necessary recovery workouts and attending outpatient therapy.
“Besides wanting to be back to work in five weeks, I wanted to go to the gym, work out and be healthy for my family cruise,” Yahara said. “When I went on the cruise this year, I was jumping on water trampolines with my son and doing things that I haven't done in about 10 years. That felt really good.”
With her new knees, Yahara got her life back. She’s now able to spend time doing what she loves with the people closest to her, all without the barriers of pain.
“The only thing that I wish I did change is that I had done the surgery sooner because I would have had more years to do the things that I love,” Yahara said.
It’s important to remember that the performance of knee replacements depends on age, weight, activity level and other factors. There are potential risks and recovery takes time. People with conditions limiting rehabilitation should not have these surgeries. Only an orthopedic surgeon can determine if knee replacement is necessary based on an individual patient's condition.
For more information and to hear more stories from people who have received the ATTUNE Knee System, visit www.ATTUNEKnee.com.
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