… Read the Rest

Randy Csikos, 58, of Cedar Lake, Indiana, has never been one to back away from a challenge…  Unfortunately, years of working on his knees at construction sites took a toll on Randy, who eventually developed arthritis in both knees.

…He made an appointment with Dr. Craig Della Valle, a knee specialist at Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush (MOR).

“I recommended partial knee replacement surgery in order to get Randy back to work as soon as possible,” said Dr. Della Valle. “This type of procedure, which can be done in an outpatient setting, allows for a quicker recovery, less rehabilitation and is designed for younger adults who want to return to their active lifestyle.”

…wo knee replacement surgeries later, Randy is moving better than he was a decade ago. Forever up to challenges, he was able to return to work the day after his second surgery and … Read the Rest

In the U.S., an estimated twenty percent of baby boomers will develop some form of osteoarthritis. When it develops on the knee as we age, the cartilage and menisci become stiffer and less flexible and becomes prone to even the slightest injury.

Last spring, sixty-six-year-old Valerie Ward of Redding went on a regular three-mile walk with a friend when suddenly something happened within her right knee and she was unable to continue. A highly-motived media sales account executive for Cablevision, Ward rested her knee for a few days, however, the swelling and stiffness made it painful to walk or sleep comfortably so she made an appointment with an orthopedic specialist.

After an evaluation and X-ray, Ward was informed that she was years away from needing total knee replacement surgery and … Read the Rest

Robena is a passionate Italian woman. Not just because of her “all day” spaghetti sauce but because she has a real zest for life. Robena loves to cook, walk for miles, swim, and visit with her neighbors. Then she got arthritis in her knee.Like most people with severe arthritis, Robena lived with the pain. She says, “sometimes my knee would give out, it just wouldn’t support me.” Then there was the sharp pain. Robena says, “before surgery, the pain was absolutely debilitating. I was getting totally disabled. I couldn’t walk. I couldn’t stand. That’s when I decided that I needed to do something.”

She saw an orthopedic surgeon, who told her about the Oxford® Partial Knee implant. Robena says, “my first thought about surgery was fear. But I trusted my doctor and I knew that’s what I needed to do to get some relief.”

Robena researched her condition and … Read the Rest

After years of heavy abuse and wear and tear to his knees, Rich developed severe osteoarthritis and as a result, had most of the meniscus in his right knee removed. By the time he was 40, Rich was in constant, debilitating pain. “The last six years or so I’ve been rubbing bone on bone creating arthritis and the degeneration of my knee,” Hutchinson said.

As a first line of treatment, Rich was prescribed cortisone injections and other non-surgical therapies. Unfortunately none of the treatments alleviated the pain. Rich had heard about surgical options such … Read the Rest

“I was in pain 24/7. When I stood up, my knee often buckled, and I felt like I was going to fall,” explains Nancy, who’s in her fifties and lives in New Hyde Park. She decided to consult with another doctor and was taken aback when he recommended a total knee replacement. “As soon as he said ‘total knee replacement’ I decided to go to the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan for another opinion,” Nancy explains. “My mother had her knee replaced there about 10 years ago and did well.” A colleague at her school gave Nancy the name of an orthopedic surgeon at the hospital. The teacher spoke highly of … Read the Rest

The 61-year-old clerk-treasurer of the town of LaGrange used to limit his walking, especially taking the stairs, because of the pain it caused. His knee problems started when he was in his early 50s, but he found relief last month in the form of a partial knee implant.

As the name implies, the surgery involved only part of Rowlison’s knee – the inner, or medial, component targeted in most partial knee procedures. Rowlison says he feels great and will probably to have the same operation – which was done on his left knee – performed on the right one in October. As more people undergo knee replacement operations, many with isolated damage are getting partial knee implants. The surgery is used when a complete overhaul isn’t needed and promises … Read the Rest

Before her arthritis, Mary enjoyed an active lifestyle that included swimming, walking, bicycling, and working at the hospital as a courier. But when she started getting arthritis in her knees, everyday life became difficult. Mary says, “the more I walked the worse it [the arthritis pain] got.” Mary describes the pain “like a knife twisting on the inside of the knee.” She was in pain from “the minute I got out of bed.” Mary says, “I was limping all the time and it was getting worse.” She was no longer able to walk, swim, or work at the hospital.

“The pain is so great that you know you need to do something. I decided to see a surgeon about the Oxford® Knee and I found out that I was a candidate for it.”

Mary felt that she would recover more quickly than with total knee surgery. … Read the Rest

I had meniscus injuries twice with subsequent arthroscopies to clean up the messes made by each. Add that to a strong family history of arthritis, you get me with one PKR and one soon to be TKR… Read the Rest