I suffered with knee pain for over 15 years. I knew I had osteoarthritis in both knees but I was told it was not severe enough for surgery. I managed the pain with injections and multiple pain medications and supplements that I took daily.
Two years ago, while on a mission trip to Uganda, Africa, I blew out both my knees walking up a hill when we were only halfway through a 12-day trip. The pain was extremely severe. Both my legs were swollen from the knees down, and it was extremely difficult to walk. I was in a foreign country and extremely scared but I didn’t tell anyone about my pain. By the time I got home I could barely walk, and the swelling had only gotten worse.
After returning home I went to the urgent care and was prescribed a high dose of steroids and referred to a surgeon where I was diagnosed with Stage IV Osteo Arthritis which is the worst stage you could have. I was bone-on-bone in both knees. I was immediately fitted for unloader braces so I could walk, and I continued to have injections in my knees every three months and had multiple pain medications and supplements that I took daily. I was told that both knees needed to be replaced, but I did not qualify due to my BMI being dangerously high.
Fast forward a little over a year later: with the help of SHAPE ReClaimed, I was able to lose 70 lbs and drop my BMI by 10.2 points. I went to the surgeon again, and he was completely blown away and immediately approved me for both surgeries. Within 5 months, I had both of my knees replaced.
It is incredible how different it is to finally walk without pain. I have no swelling in my knees or legs. In February I will go back to Uganda healthier and with my new knees and I can not wait to walk up that same hill with confidence.
Thank you, SHAPE ReClaimed, for giving me my life back!