Gill, who lives near Abingdon, Oxfordshire has enjoyed a lifetime of playing tennis at a good level. Regularly competing for her local club, she would often play several times a week - plus matches, in the week and weekends. She considered herself to be very fit for her age and active (also taking up golf, ‘on the side’ as a fun and sociable pursuit with local friends).
I’m still working hard to build up strength in my legs - which suffered whilst my knee was in a bad way – with regular exercise and physiotherapy. But I can honestly say that Arthrosamid® gave me a new spring in my step!
So, when Gill (60) started experiencing pain in both knees, around two years ago– there was no immediate cause for concern. She was, after all, used to playing competive sport and pushing herself through her love of sport. But, when the niggles in her knees started to become more troublesome and painful, she decided to seek professional help.
Gill was already under the care of local orthopaedic surgeon, Mark Deakin, based The Manor Hospital, Oxford, and, when Gill first presented with ongoing, nagging pain in both her knees, he carried out a series of investigations / scans and agreed that years of intense sport had taken its toll, identifying severe wear and tear in the right knee and early osteoarthritis and a cyst, which was causing problems in the left. In his words “it wasn’t pretty”! An initial steroid injection in the right seemed to ‘do the trick’ and in due course, the cyst was aspirated in the left…but still the pain in that side persisted.
Gill explains; “My left knee soon went from ‘ouchy’ to ‘agony’ and it really was starting to have a detrimental effect on my mood. I tried not to make a fuss or allow the chronic pain to affect my quality of life but eventually, I had to stop playing tennis. My husband, too, was becoming aware of the impact it was having – I just wasn’t myself.
“I couldn’t really garden any longer, climbing up and down the stairs was unbearable and I was dragging myself around the golf course, dosed up on painkillers, often only managing 9 holes. I was losing my fitness and knew I had to do something about the situation. So, I went back to see Mark who, in the meantime, had been ‘reading up’ about new research and the successful patient outcomes of a hydrogel injection called, Arthrosamid®. He was keen - as was I - to avoid knee replacement surgery and felt that due to my age, fitness and the condition of my knee, I’d be an eligible candidate for this minimally invasive treatment. In both mine – and my husband’s - opinion, it was a ‘no brainer’.
“Following further research and on recommendation of my son, in August of this year, I booked into the Fortius Clinic, London, where Sports & Exercise Medicine (SEM) Consultant, George Bownes administered the injection. And, over 3 months later, I can honestly say I haven’t looked back! In fact, my only regret is that I didn’t do it before.
“Post injection, I really took care not to run before I could walk! I did all the rehab and followed George’s advice to the letter - which I believe really helped with my overall recovery.
“Having had so much time out of the game - and recognising the impact and intensity of tennis on one’s knees – I’m not sure I’ll ever return to the court again at the same level. I’m hoping to start playing recreationally and gently again – but my driving force really is to just to have fun and teach my three young grandchildren how to play.
“And, thanks to Arthrosamid®, golf is now my passion!
“Everyone wants to know what my secret is. I’ve gone from being carted around the course in a buggy and wincing in pain if I had to step into a bunker, to now being able to do a full 18 holes, pain-free and really working on my game (and my swing). I sometimes forget that I ever had a sore knee! I fly up and down the stairs without thought rather than sidestepping them gingerly.
“I can’t emphasis enough how draining chronic pain can be - and my husband has absolutely noticed the difference in me, following my Arthrosamid® injection.
“I’m still working hard to build up strength in my legs - which suffered whilst my knee was in a bad way – with regular exercise and physiotherapy. But I can honestly say that Arthrosamid® gave me a new spring in my step!
