Successful Knee Replacement Gets Denise Back to What She Loves the Most
If you run into Denise Coyle, odds are, she’ll be on the move. “I’m not one to sit,” says Denise, 67, of Franconia Township. On any given day, she’ll go from leading an exercise class at Souderton Mennonite Homes to working in her garden to playing with her grandkids — and much, much more.
“What I love to do most is help people,” Denise says. “I like taking people to their doctor’s appointments and assisting them in any way I can.”
But three years ago, Denise found herself gradually stepping back from the things she loved. She developed pain in her right knee that wouldn’t go away. “I used to walk with my friend in Quakertown for anywhere from two-to-five miles a couple of times each week,” Denise says. “Then it got to the point where I could only walk around the block due to the pain.”
At that point, she sought help. “I wanted to stay active,” she says.
Familiar Face
For help, Denise turned to a hospital — and a doctor — she knew and trusted: Paul Weidner, MD, a board-certified joint replacement surgeon with Upper Bucks Orthopaedics at Grand View Health.
“I had worked with Grand View Home Care for almost 20 years,” says Denise, who was a physical therapist for four decades. “I knew Dr. Weidner for 30 years. In fact, I used to borrow some of his prosthetic knee samples when I talked about physical therapy at my kids’ school.”
Dr. Weidner started Denise on conservative treatments, including steroid injections, which offered some relief, but the pain came back. The only option left was a complete knee replacement.
“Some people feel like they need to go into Philadelphia to get knee surgery, but I’ve seen so many knees done successfully at Grand View that I knew I could get the best care right here,” Denise says.
Thorough Preparation
Denise was impressed by Grand View’s commitment to pre-surgery preparation and post-surgery follow-up. “They give you a wonderful guidebook that tells you everything you need to know,” she says. The book covers topics such as what to expect before and on the day of surgery, how to reduce post-surgery pain, how to care for yourself at home, and the importance of having a good support system.
Denise also took part in a pre-surgery class. “As a physical therapist, I knew a lot of the information already,” she says. “But going through this yourself is quite different than helping other people through it.”
On July 10, 2023, Dr. Weidner performed Denise’s total knee replacement using the Mako® Robotic-Arm Assisted Surgery System, which increases precision during joint procedures. Denise left the hospital later that same day. “I was walking with a walker when I left Grand View, and I was walking without a walker four days later,” Denise says. “I didn’t have much pain after the surgery and only needed Tylenol and naproxen to control it.”
Solid Support
As she recovered at home, Denise relied on her support system, which included her husband and family, along with members of her church. “One of my granddaughters would bring me ice and wrap my leg in an Ace bandage,” Denise says. “And our church family brought us meals three times a week.”
Now, Denise says, she can do “pretty much anything I want.” She’s back to leading her exercise class and driving others to the doctors. She also took part in a post-surgery information session at Grand View and shared her feedback with Dr. Weidner and his entire team. “Whenever I had a question, Dr. Weidner and his PA [Melissa Rosenau, PA-C] got back to me right away,” Denise says. “I really appreciated Grand View’s program, and I know it helped me get my life back.”
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