Client Testimonial – Partial Knee Replacement
Debbi, Gibraltar
‘The results are amazing. I now know that whatever I do, I can rely on my knee to support me, thanks to the surgery by Dr. Boerger. He takes a genuine interest in you, speaks with respect, and clearly has a real passion for his work. Now I’ve total confidence in my knee, and I’m back to hill-walking, playing with the grand kids and cycling 30km’, explains Debbi, a client who had a patella-femoral (partial knee replacement) by Dr. Thomas Boerger.
‘I’ve always been extremely active’, confirms Debbi. ‘I love hiking, hill walking and I regularly competed in road bicycle racing too. I know that being active at that level can mean one’s body suffers, and I think that probably contributed to my knee problems.
Background
Before moving to Gibraltar, I was living in the UK. When I was in my 40s, I began to really suffer from joint pain, but I just couldn’t seem to find a solution with the health service. Doctors would suggest it was simply a case of wear & tear or arthritis, and no one would suggest a lasting solution.
Eventually I had a small procedure to ‘clean’ the knee joint, but the UK specialist suggested that further surgery was not required.
After this, I suppose I had given up on the doctors in the UK. I was managing the situation with painkillers and mindfulness exercises’, she confirms.
It wasn’t until Debbi moved to Gibraltar, and thanks to private medical cover, that she had a consultation with Dr. Thomas Boerger and begun her journey to pain-free mobility.
By the time Debbi had moved to Gibraltar the pain in her knee was significant. She had tried to remain active over the past decade, but it was now exceedingly difficult as she had no confidence in the joint. If weight were put on it at a poor angle, her leg would buckle.
The Consultations
Dr. Boerger ordered X-rays that showed the wear & tear, but he wanted to know more, so he requested an MRI scan too.
The results of the imaging showed just how significant the damage to the joint was, with bone rubbing on bone.
‘I was delighted that after 10 years finally someone was listening to be and understood that I was genuinely in pain!’ explains Debbi.
‘Dr. Boerger said that the joint didn’t need to be replaced entirely; instead, a partial knee replacement would achieve my objective of pain free movement and renewed confidence in my knee’.
Personal Approach
‘Dr. Thomas was very thorough in his approach during the consultation’, continues Debbi. ‘He not only asked all about my medical history and past procedures, but he was also wanted to know what my expectations for treatment were; he wanted to know what I was hoping the results would be.
The consultation felt very personalised; tailored to me. Dr. Thomas is not at all as you might expect a consultant surgeon to be instead, he’s really nice, friendly and respectful’
The Procedures
I had my patella-femoral replacement at HC Marbella. It’s a lovely private hospital, in beautiful gardens, not far from the sea. I had the surgery early evening on the day of my arrival. I didn’t need a general anaesthetic, just an epidural with sedation which meant recovery was quicker. I briefly became conscious during the procedure, and saw Dr. Boerger working on my knee, but I felt nothing and when I saw my leg it felt like the procedure was being done on somebody else!’
Post-Procedure Recovery & Aftercare
I stayed a couple of nights in hospital. They gave me pain relief and initially my leg was heavily bandaged and raised up on a pillow. I didn’t have any real discomfort after the procedure, and I was soon able to get up and use the crutches to go to the bathroom on my own.
In my personal experience, I think I probably over-did it with too much activity soon after the partial knee replacement. My joint did swell up quite a bit. I think I should probably have kept to shorter periods of movement to help the joint heal. Resting it with cold packs certainly helped the swelling go down.
Results
Within a short period of time, I was off the crutches and able to have a particularly good range of movement, at least 135 degrees. I could bend my knee so my calf could touch my thigh.
I focused on building strength and stability and within probably 6 weeks I was back on my bicycle and was really mobile.
In fact, the cycling was great, as it avoided placing too much weight or pressure on the knee, but kept it moving, building, and strengthening the muscle.
The results really are amazing. I can now do all the things one really takes for granted, like running up the stairs, coming down normally (not sideways like before); and I can play and crawl on the floor with the grand children!’ explains Debbi.
‘I know now that whatever I am doing, I can rely on my knee to support me. Before the partial knee replacement my leg would buckle without warning.
I am back on my bicycle – in fact, the only thing that holds me back now, is my level of fitness, not my knee. I am happy to cycle 20-30 kms.
Recommendation
Dr. Thomas Boerger takes a genuine interest in you, speaks with respect, and clearly has a real passion for his work. He wants the best possible outcome for you as the patient, and really focuses on pain free movement and an improvement in quality of life’.