Patient Testimonial: Getting Back to an Active Life After Knee Replacement Surgery

For many people, the decision to undergo joint replacement surgery is not an easy one. It can take years of indecision, doubt and unnecessary pain before someone finally decides to go ahead with their surgery.

Navigating Troublesome Joint Pain

Amir Alrubaiy was one of these people. For more than 10 years, he tried to ignore the increasingly painful arthritis he experienced in both knees. As a 49-year-old professional fitness trainer, power weightlifter, expert skier and father of two, Amir loved being active. But he put off joint replacement surgery because he worried it might stop him from continuing all his favorite athletic activities. “I thought having the surgery might actually limit my ability to do all the things I loved,” he explains. “So, I just dealt with the pain.”

When it became too painful for Amir to play pickleball with his wife, he knew it was time to explore some other options. In 2022, he met with Dr. Todd Miner, an orthopedic surgeon at AdventHealth Medical Group Colorado Joint Replacement. Amir connected with Dr. Miner right away and described the whole process as “easy, smooth and seamless.”

“Dr. Miner is great,” Amir shares. “He’s easy to talk to and allows tons of time for questions.” Amir also appreciated that the orthopedic team really listened to his needs and goals. “They never pushed the surgery on me,” he adds. They wanted to know my goals and made sure we could meet them.”

In addition, though Dr. Miner wanted to ensure a safe recovery for Amir, he didn’t discourage him from resuming his athletic activities post-surgery. “He never took any of my activities off the table, which was important to me.”

Amir’s Successful Procedure and Recovery

A few months after his initial consultation with Dr. Miner and the team, Amir went in for his bilateral knee replacement surgeries at AdventHealth Porter. The surgery went smoothly, and Amir went home the next day. He did several weeks of rehabilitation, and by week 11, he was riding a stationary bike and squatting with weights. Eight months later, the pain in his knees was gone, and he had full function again. One year later, Amir was back to skiing, boxing, rock climbing and even surpassing his previous weightlifting achievements in the gym. “I feel like I’m in my thirties again — and maybe even stronger now,” he shares.

Today, Amir is grateful for the Colorado Joint Replacement team and wishes he had done the surgeries sooner. “If I had known how much better I would feel and the amazing results I would achieve, I could have saved myself so much angst and pain. Thank you for helping me keep doing the activities that make me happiest and more.”

Let’s Get You Back to the Life You Love

At AdventHealth, it’s our goal to help you feel like your best self. Our orthopedic specialists offer compassionate, whole-person surgical care and will strive to help you get back to the active life you love. Learn more about our trusted orthopedic care today.