Note from Manon: I'll copy-paste the story from Maria below. Thank you for sharing your story Maria!
Three years ago, in February 2020, I had a knee replacement and developed Arthrofibrosis afterwards. I am 76 years old and live in Canada. After my operation I was instructed to do strenuous exercises to gain mobility of my knee till I cried. Each time my knee would swell up and get more and more inflamed.
Nobody was able to help me and knew anything about Arthrofibrosis.
So I searched the internet and found Dr. Kayley Usher’s research about Arthrofibrosis: "Pathological mechanisms and therapeutic outlooks for arthrofibrosis”.
Dr. Usher changed my life and I want to give tribute to her and her work and for creating this website!
Learning to understand that my problem was not mechanical and could not be cured with more strenuous exercise I came to understand the different factors that play such an important role in dealing with Arthrofibrosis. It took me over a year to finally find a Podiatrist who suspected that my nerves might be impacted by the built-up of tissue. He then sent me to a Neurologist who prescribed Duloxetine, to relieve nerve pain. During this whole process Dr. Usher supported me with advice, encouragement and valuable information! Without Dr. Usher’s support and generous notes and letters about the latest advancements I would be in much despair today.
Now I can walk relatively well with the support of poles and enjoy life again.
Interestingly enough another doctor, a surgeon Dr. Traut in Germany, has come to similar conclusions, that Arthrofibrosis has to be treated differently from a regular exercise program after a knee or shoulder replacement.
I cannot thank Dr. Usher enough for her research and continuous studies and especially for this amazing website!
Maria Raynolds
