Jane Dotchin

84-year-old Jane Dotchin is a truly inspirational example of a life well lived. A keen horsewoman all her life, to this day Jane continues her love of long-distance travel across the UK on horseback. Every year, she completes a staggering 500-mile round trip trek from her Northumberland home in Hexham to Scottish Highlands on her horse, Diamond with Jack Russel, Dinky, along for the ride in the saddle bag. Jane is all about the outdoor life – day-to-day she lives on a small holding surrounded by hens, dogs and horses and spends much of her trips camping out in the wild. 

Jane says, “I used to do about 700 miles every Autumn, walking and leading the pony across the country. Now the pony has to carry me and the packs – there’s no way I can walk that distance now! But, I still absolutely love the experience. Having done this for the past 50 years, I know exactly what I can and can’t do – but I have had to adapt. When I’m camping, I can’t bend down any longer to put the tent up, so I have to crawl from on peg to the next! But, I don’t really want to stop being able to do it. With old age and “wear and tear”,  the best that we can do is keep going.” 

Unfortunately, Jane is no stranger to health problems. She lost the sight in her right eye in 1984 and over the past 10 years, Jane has been suffering with pain and stiffness in her knees. And while she hasn’t let it hold her back from living the life she loves – or keep her from the saddle -  she was determined to find a treatment that would allow her to function well for longer (both physically and mentally). 

Jane says, “I reckon the pain in my knees has been about a 7 or 8 out of 10. The pain can be exhausting. It’s not all the time, but things like trying to get out of a chair has been tricky in the past or getting up onto the horse can be extremely painful. Walking downstairs was agonising – a 10 out of 10! Before the injection, I struggled walking and I’d started using a stick. Even if I was standing still, my knees hurt and I‘d want to be sitting down. Then I’d get up, and the pain would start again. It was frustrating. Plus the fact that I’ve had a hip replacement on the left side, and that’s the leg that I have to put in the stirrup.”

It was actually Jane’s love of the outdoors that brought her to Arthrosamid®. Camping up on a farm up in Stirlingshire, Jane was talking to the farmer who was considering getting treated himself with the hydrogel injection. Having researched online, Jane made an appointment in a clinic in nearby Hexham with one of the UK’s leading physiotherapists, Paul Hobrough. In July 2025, Jane had treatment in both knees with Arthrosamid® – a single hydrogel injection that restores elasticity to synovial tissue in the knee, improving joint function and pain outcomes. Jane says that this minimally invasive alternative to a total knee replacement (TKR) has definitely made her “feel more hopeful”. With NHS waiting lists for TKR surgery high and recovery times long, Jane is thankful that she was able to treat both knees in the same single day procedure – rather than an anticipated 9 month wait in between each knee surgery with a TKR. 

Jane comments, “At my age, the shorter recovery time with this injection means that I make the most of my time and carry on with things that I’m already passionate about. I could walk straight away, even if it was a bit stiff to start with, and I didn’t have to stop the things I love; working outside looking after my cows, my horse and my hens, as well as gardening. That wouldn’t be possible if I was hobbling around with crutches! Since the injections, I’ve gradually got better and better. I’m improving all the time. I feel far less pain and I’m able to go up and down hills far more easily. It’s a great relief to be able to do things without swearing with the pain!”

Since the injections, Jane has been on a two-week trip on her horse and is hopeful that the treatment has given her back the mobility to pursue her passion, commenting, “When I went away in 2024, I wondered if that was going to be my last trip. So, I’m very grateful for this treatment – it’s marvellous and it’s given me more enthusiasm to go away again. I would have missed it terribly if I couldn’t get away. I’m now planning to do a longer trip to Scotland in the Spring, for six or seven weeks at least. With less pain now, I think I would be able to. Arthrosamid® has given me a great boost to know that I’m able to do it all again”