Midlife mom is “movin’ and groovin’” after total knee surgery

Every day is a new day to move and celebrate life for Annette Rasmussen, Taylor Ridge, IL, following successful knee replacement surgery at ORA Orthopedics.

Annette managed to go from knee replacement surgery to walking the QC Marathon in less than a year.

If every journey begins with a single step, than one Taylor Ridge, Ill, grandmother is proving you can go from knee replacement surgery to walking the Quad City Marathon in just six months.

Annette’s path back to living midlife to the max was marked by challenges, frustration, and excruciating pain. “Before the surgery, on a pain scale of 1-10, I’d rate my pain level as a 15.

“After working on my feet all day as a nurse, I’d come home in tears. It wasn’t how I envisioned spending the best years of my life, and I knew it was time to get a new knee. I’ve always lived by the adage that if, “I’m not movin’, I’m not groovin’!’”

Living life at one speed – fast

Living life on fast-forward is not new for Annette. “When I was a kid, my mom described me as a ‘fart in a skillet,’ and she was right! I grew up on a farm as the oldest and helped my family not only look after my four younger siblings, but took care of our animals and other chores.”

Single motherhood only accelerated her pace. “Going to college to get my nursing degree while raising three sons just kicked me into a higher gear. The boys and I were going all directions. When one ran cross country, I ran and trained with him. I was also a Boy Scout leader and camped and hiked along with the troop. Now that my sons have grown and flown, knee arthritis was not going to put the brakes on living my life.”

At age 48, Annette’s excruciating knee pain required professional evaluation. ORA Orthopedics Joint Replacement Surgeon, Dr. Waqas Hussain, says her knee arthritis and a torn meniscus needed treatment. “We performed a knee scope to address the meniscus tear, but we noticed she had a lot of arthritis beyond what imaging showed.

Dr. Waqas Hussain, ORA Sports Medicine

“Although she was (and remains) an atypical candidate for knee replacement surgery, we do see significant arthritis in patients her age and even younger. However, we don’t rush into surgery and so we began Annette’s treatment plan with conservative therapies such as cortisone injections that enabled her to keep her knee as long as possible.”

Knowing it was time for a knee replacement

However, as with many arthritic knee patients, the ensuing years took their toll on her knee. When Annette could no longer perform her normal activities of daily living, she was ready to take the next step.

“If Annette were to wait for knee replacement surgery any longer, there could be negative consequences for both her health and quality of life. For her, performing the joint replacement surgery was the best option so she can use those years to stay active.

“We are definitely seeing more 50 year-old patients who are more active and have higher expectations for moving well into their senior years. If we can get keep them on their feet while they are still active, they’ll reduce their risk for weight-related health issues and chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease associated with sedentary living.”

The words “slow down” just aren’t in Annette’s vocabulary – she still does her recovery PT routine in her basement a year after surgery.

The word “sedentary” is certainly not in Annette’s vocabulary, and she had her sights on a bigger goal following surgery: walking the Quad City Marathon in 2021. “Dr. Hussain said I’d be back into full swing within eight to 12 months, and he was right.

Kickin’ it into recovery mode

“I kicked up my training a notch, did my physical therapy, got up early, stretched, and trained on the elliptical. Six months later, I walked the entire 26.2 mile Quad City Marathon course. I finished! I was pooped when I was done. My sister said I was crazy,” she laughs.

Her advice for tackling physical setbacks: “Move every day. Set your own goal. Take it one day at a time. I’m either on my elliptical in the winter, walking the river paths, mountain biking, or hiking in the spring, summer, and fall.

“It’s been almost a year now, and I’m just feeling like I can go, go, go! I am not a quitter. My mom was only 57 when she died. Every day is a gift. If I make it to 60, I’ve lived longer than my mom.”

“Her outlook is great and has really aided her healing,” says Dr. Hussain. “Her new knee will serve her well and provide decades of enjoyment.”

“I cannot thank him enough,” adds Annette. “The man has a gift. His bedside manner is so wonderful. He sat there with me and listened. He sincerely cared about me, and I knew I could get my life back. And I did.”

Annette managed to go from knee replacement surgery to walking the QC Marathon in less than a year.

If every journey begins with a single step, than one Taylor Ridge, Ill, grandmother is proving you can go from knee replacement surgery to walking the Quad City Marathon in just six months.

Annette’s path back to living midlife to the max was marked by challenges, frustration, and excruciating pain. “Before the surgery, on a pain scale of 1-10, I’d rate my pain level as a 15.

“After working on my feet all day as a nurse, I’d come home in tears. It wasn’t how I envisioned spending the best years of my life, and I knew it was time to get a new knee. I’ve always lived by the adage that if, “I’m not movin’, I’m not groovin’!’”

Living life at one speed – fast

Living life on fast-forward is not new for Annette. “When I was a kid, my mom described me as a ‘fart in a skillet,’ and she was right! I grew up on a farm as the oldest and helped my family not only look after my four younger siblings, but took care of our animals and other chores.”

Single motherhood only accelerated her pace. “Going to college to get my nursing degree while raising three sons just kicked me into a higher gear. The boys and I were going all directions. When one ran cross country, I ran and trained with him. I was also a Boy Scout leader and camped and hiked along with the troop. Now that my sons have grown and flown, knee arthritis was not going to put the brakes on living my life.”

At age 48, Annette’s excruciating knee pain required professional evaluation. ORA Orthopedics Joint Replacement Surgeon, Dr. Waqas Hussain, says her knee arthritis and a torn meniscus needed treatment. “We performed a knee scope to address the meniscus tear, but we noticed she had a lot of arthritis beyond what imaging showed.

Dr. Waqas Hussain, ORA Sports Medicine

“Although she was (and remains) an atypical candidate for knee replacement surgery, we do see significant arthritis in patients her age and even younger. However, we don’t rush into surgery and so we began Annette’s treatment plan with conservative therapies such as cortisone injections that enabled her to keep her knee as long as possible.”

Knowing it was time for a knee replacement

However, as with many arthritic knee patients, the ensuing years took their toll on her knee. When Annette could no longer perform her normal activities of daily living, she was ready to take the next step.

“If Annette were to wait for knee replacement surgery any longer, there could be negative consequences for both her health and quality of life. For her, performing the joint replacement surgery was the best option so she can use those years to stay active.

“We are definitely seeing more 50 year-old patients who are more active and have higher expectations for moving well into their senior years. If we can get keep them on their feet while they are still active, they’ll reduce their risk for weight-related health issues and chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease associated with sedentary living.”

The words “slow down” just aren’t in Annette’s vocabulary – she still does her recovery PT routine in her basement a year after surgery.

The word “sedentary” is certainly not in Annette’s vocabulary, and she had her sights on a bigger goal following surgery: walking the Quad City Marathon in 2021. “Dr. Hussain said I’d be back into full swing within eight to 12 months, and he was right.

Kickin’ it into recovery mode

“I kicked up my training a notch, did my physical therapy, got up early, stretched, and trained on the elliptical. Six months later, I walked the entire 26.2 mile Quad City Marathon course. I finished! I was pooped when I was done. My sister said I was crazy,” she laughs.

Her advice for tackling physical setbacks: “Move every day. Set your own goal. Take it one day at a time. I’m either on my elliptical in the winter, walking the river paths, mountain biking, or hiking in the spring, summer, and fall.

“It’s been almost a year now, and I’m just feeling like I can go, go, go! I am not a quitter. My mom was only 57 when she died. Every day is a gift. If I make it to 60, I’ve lived longer than my mom.”

“Her outlook is great and has really aided her healing,” says Dr. Hussain. “Her new knee will serve her well and provide decades of enjoyment.”

“I cannot thank him enough,” adds Annette. “The man has a gift. His bedside manner is so wonderful. He sat there with me and listened. He sincerely cared about me, and I knew I could get my life back. And I did.”