Sherry, who completed her total knee replacement at BOS with Dr. Jason Rotstein, was kind enough to answer a few questions for us about her experience:

Hello Sherry! Tell us about your symptoms before your knee replacement. How was your condition affecting your daily life?

The symptoms I had before my knee replacement were:

• Knee pain when going up and down stairs
• Inability to run, jump, march
• Knee issues prevented me from getting the most out of physical activity. For example, I couldn't play pickleball the way I should (couldn’t run to/after the ball, difficulty running up to the net, etc)
• Could not take long walks the way I used to due to some uncomfortableness during and after the walk.
• Uncomfortable to ride a bicycle (getting on and off the bike).
• Unstable after sitting for a period of time needed to stand and wait for the knee to engage prior to walking
• My knee joint was deformed and I couldn’t fully straighten my leg

What ultimately led you to choose total knee replacement surgery?

I wanted to be able to enjoy life and do the things I used to be able to do. I wanted to participate in activities that I enjoyed. I also wanted to keep up with my granddaughter better!

What brought you to Barrington Orthopedic Specialists and Dr. Rotstein? What stood out to you about the practice?

I had been to Barrington Orthopedic Specialists prior to my knee replacement and liked the practice. Dr. Rotstein was recommended to me. I read the reviews and decided to get a consultation with him. I was impressed by him and the office. The office is timely and efficient. I liked that I could have an x-ray right on the premises and get immediate feedback. I never had to wait more than a few minutes to be seen by the doctor or his team.

How was your experience with Dr. Rotstein and the team at BOS? How did they help you prepare for your procedure?

My experience with Dr. Rotstein was outstanding! The people on Dr. Rotstein’s team are friendly and personable. They made me feel comfortable at all times. Dr. Rotstein explained the procedure for the total knee replacement in terms I could understand. He made sure I had all my questions answered. Even though I was very concerned about the surgery, he (and his team) made me feel comfortable and confident everything would be fine.

In addition, Dr. Rotstein had a very calming demeanor when he met with me in the hospital just prior to the surgery. That visit put me more at ease about the whole procedure!

Your procedure utilized the MAKO Robotic Arm-Assisted Surgery device. What did you think of the technology involved in your surgery? Do you think it made a difference in your results?

I think the Robotic Arm-Assisted Surgery device was critical to the entire procedure. It also gave me more comfort knowing the technology wouldn’t allow more cutting than necessary! I think it made a big difference in my results and I am extremely pleased that Dr. Rotstein used that technology!

What was your recovery process like? How did the BOS team assist you? What was the most rewarding part of post-op rehabilitation? The most difficult part?

The recovery process was long and required a lot of work to gain range of motion back as soon as possible. The BOS team was extremely helpful immediately after the surgery for several weeks. Any time I had questions or concerns, I called them and they answered my call in a timely fashion. They never made me feel like I was bothering them!

The best part of the post-op rehab was the RomTech machine. The RomTech bike helped my knee loosen up during the day, even on the days I didn’t have physical therapy. At first I was scared that it would hurt, but I soon learned that the motion of the bike made my knee feel better! I looked forward to going on it first thing in the morning and at night prior to going to bed. I also used it during the day, but I found it especially helpful first thing in the morning and last thing at night. I also think this helped with physical therapy because it made me heal faster so that PT was not that painful!

The most difficult part of the post-op rehab was the swelling of the entire leg! I was surprised at how long the swelling lasted. The post-op required lots of icing throughout the day, as well as, making sure to do the PT exercises at home every day. Another difficult part of recovery was knowing when/how to reduce the pain medicine. Dr. Rotstein provided information to help know when to reduce the narcotics and then just use over-the-counter medication.

How is your new knee? Is your rehabilitation complete, or still in progress? How has your life improved?

My new knee is wonderful!! I can fully straighten my knee again. I don’t have pain in my knee and I can do things I couldn't do prior to the surgery. I can sit in a restaurant at a table for an hour and then just get up and go without having to wait for my knee to engage.

Additionally, I went on a 12-hour car trip without any problems! My knee was not uncomfortable at all during the ride and I could get out of the car without any hesitation. I can now go on longer and faster walks without feeling uncomfortable or tired!

Even though I am not supposed to run right now, I did try it. I can’t believe I could actually run again after so many years of not being able to do that (even if it was for only a few seconds). While I still can’t yet play pickleball, I know my game will be much improved!

What would you say to someone else considering total knee replacement surgery?

I would say they should definitely use Dr. Rotstein at BOS. As a matter of fact, I have already suggested Dr. Rotstein to a couple of friends! I know several people who have had total knee replacement surgery from other doctors, and they did not recover as quickly and as well as I did.

Thank you for answering these questions for us!