I was really pleased after my second surgery because I could tell from my journaling that my recovery was much faster. Everything was a little easier, a little less intense. I could tell my mobility was better much quicker. I could straighten and bend my knee an entire week earlier, and there was overall less pain. It would have been wonderful if both knees were done with ROSA®, but I am thrilled with the results either way.
After 10 years of bone-on-bone knee pain, Marijke McKinley was ready for relief. She underwent two knee replacements. As she journaled and tracked her progress for each surgery, she knew her first knee surgery had more pain and a longer recovery than her second. What was the difference between the two? In her second surgery, her surgeons used ROSA®.
Born and raised in the Netherlands, Marijke moved to Pittsburgh in 1973. She spent her career as a nurse working in outpatient surgery and raising her two sons until 2002 when she headed down to Lutz, FL, where she has lived since. Marijke worked at Watson Clinic in Lakeland as a clinical coordinator, assisting patients and physicians in multiple departments including Orthopedics. She recently retired, but recalls such fond memories of her time at Watson Clinic.
“I loved my job, truly. People would often joke about my long drive from Lutz to Lakeland. But honestly, I loved my job so much I didn’t mind the drive one bit.”
Marijke had always been active. Her life in the Netherlands is painted with memories of biking along the tulip-lined country roads of Holland with her sister. Before knee pain crept into her life, she spent her evenings breaking a sweat in Jazzercise with her friends and her weekends tending her garden.
“I spent ten years with bone-on-bone knee pain. I would receive injections to help with the pain, but those were just a band-aid solution. I knew it was time for surgery when simple things like stepping off the curb at the movies was unbearable and going up the stairs was no longer an option; and entering my 70s, I didn’t want to wait any longer.”
Marijke desperately wanted to get back to her life; back to not only Jazzercise and being active, but simply going up and down stairs, walking to the mailbox, and standing up from her chair without pain. Although she planned to begin her journey to knee surgery earlier, she battled breast cancer in 2019. As she regained her strength from battling and beating cancer, she knew it was time to take on the next journey for her health. She began at Lakeland Regional Health, preparing for her first knee replacement in September 2022.
Medical advancements are pushing forward to give patients even greater outcomes and recoveries. These advancements may increase efficiency during surgery, create a fast recovery timeline, reduce the need for pre-operative scans, and even reduce blood loss. What about an instrument that does all of this and more?
The ROSA® Knee System works alongside surgeons in a robot-assisted knee replacement surgery to increase accuracy during surgery giving patients a speedier and less painful recovery. Lakeland Regional Health offers this as Polk County’s only ROSA® Knee System.
You may be wondering if there are truly noticeable differences between traditional knee replacement surgery and ROSA® knee surgery. Marijke McKinley knows this to be true from first-hand experience.
Marijke met with her Orthopedics care team and Dr. Vo created a plan for her surgery preparation and post-operative physical therapy. Her surgeons successfully completed her first knee replacement on her right knee. Marijke recalls working very hard in physical therapy to regain strength.
“I worked very hard at straightening my knee after surgery, starting at small angles then eventually getting it perfectly straight after two weeks. It is crucial to get the flexibility of your knee soon after surgery.”
As she began to realize the impact of regaining mobility in her right knee, she decided it was well worth replacing her left as well. She was nervous, but knew she could take this journey again with the Orthopedics and Physical Therapy team at LRH by her side. Dr. Vo performed her knee surgery in February 1st, 2023, and she began her path to pain-free mobility for her left knee.
Her left knee surgery was different; Dr. Vo used ROSA for a quicker recovery and more accuracy during knee placement. Marijke journaled her experiences with both surgeries. She was able to identify key differences between the two types of recoveries; ROSA was a speedier recovery.
“I was really pleased after my second surgery because I could tell from my journaling that my recovery was much faster. Everything was a little easier, a little less intense. I could tell my mobility was better much quicker. I could straighten and bend my knee an entire week earlier, and there was overall less pain. It would have been wonderful if both knees were done with ROSA, but I am thrilled with the results either way.”
Marijke is almost fully recovered from her surgery, and she feels stronger every day! She is most excited to start Jazzercise shortly and continue living her now pain-free, active life.
“I am back to my life again! Because of my surgeries and the incredible PT team, my legs feel stronger, my stamina is better, and I can walk 2 miles with no pain. I am most looking forward to returning to Jazzercise once Dr. Vo clears me. I am very happy!
If you’re ready to get back to living life pain-free, we are ready to care just for you with Polk County’s only ROSA® Knee System.
