Denise’s story: Climbing Sydney Harbour Bridge just 14 weeks after knee replacement surgery
"My surgeon believed in me". Read Denise’s story about how she went from undergoing knee replacement surgery at The Winterbourne Hospital to climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge 3 months later.
Meet Denise
At 65, Denise underwent knee replacement surgery at The Winterbourne Hospital.
Denise had spent more than 40 years caring for others as a paediatric nurse and ADHD specialist.
"I'd been struggling with my knee for years," Denise recalls. "But the real turning point came during a holiday to Turkey."
While getting into a hot air balloon, someone tried to help her climb into the basket. In the process, she twisted and injured her knee.
"That was the moment everything changed. From then on, the pain just seemed to get worse and worse. It made me realise that this wasn't something I could simply put up with anymore."
Determined not to let her knee hold her back any longer, Denise decided it was time to explore what her treatment options were.
What followed was a journey that restored her mobility, renewed her confidence, and helped her achieve an ambitious personal goal: climbing Sydney Harbour Bridge just 14 weeks after knee replacement surgery.
Denise's diagnosis and decision to have surgery with Mr Hall
She first met Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Mr Matthew Hall, during a consultation at The Winterbourne Hospital. Having previously explored other treatment options, including steroid injections and exercises, she decided to get a different opinion.
When she met Mr Hall, she immediately felt reassured.
"What stood out was that Mr Hall asked me what I thought. He involved me in the decision-making and listened to what was important to me."
As a nurse with more than 40 years' experience in healthcare, Denise valued the way Mr Hall treated her as an individual rather than simply another patient needing surgery.
"Mr Hall saw me as a person, not just a knee replacement. He took the time to understand me and what I wanted to achieve."
By the end of the consultation, Denise felt confident that surgery was the right next step and that she was in safe hands.
She was also highly complementary about the hospital team's efficiency and support throughout the process.
"The administrative team and the whole process at The Winterbourne were excellent. Everything ran smoothly from beginning to end."
Going into a total knee replacement surgery
Like many patients, she had concerns before her operation, particularly about having a spinal anaesthetic.
"I was worried about having a spinal anaesthetic," Denise stressed. "Being a nurse, I knew what the surgeons would be doing to my knee and I didn't particularly want a front-row seat!", she laughs.
Fortunately, her concerns quickly disappeared.
"The team talked me through everything beforehand. I barely felt the spinal anaesthetic and the next thing I remember is waking up in recovery."
Throughout her hospital stay, she felt reassured by the staff around her, praising the pain management and support provided after surgery.
"In recovery, they talked to me the whole time and that made such a difference. My pain was managed really effectively. The care from everyone, including the nursing team, housekeeping, and catering staff, was amazing. I genuinely couldn't fault it."
Denise's recovery and rehabilitation
Denise's commitment to preparing for surgery played a major role in her success. She completed prehabilitation exercises and became familiar with the movements she would need to continue after surgery.
"The prehab exercises really helped. I already knew the movements that I needed to do after the operation because I'd been practising beforehand."
Her commitment paid off quickly. Within 24 hours of surgery, she no longer felt she needed crutches and began focusing on rebuilding her strength and mobility.
She followed her exercise programme consistently, listened to her clinical team, and quickly built the confidence she needed for the Australia trip she had been working towards.
The care from everyone, including the nursing team, housekeeping, and catering staff, was amazing. I genuinely couldn't fault it.
Setting an incredible recovery goal
Long before her surgery date was confirmed, she and her husband had already booked a trip to Australia.
Rather than cancelling the trip, Denise turned it into her recovery goal.
"I was determined to climb Sydney Harbour Bridge not long after my surgery. The physiotherapists thought I must be joking," she laughed. “But Mr Hall never questioned whether I could do it. He simply said, “Send me a picture”. He believed in me, and that meant a lot."
That trip kept her motivated throughout the early stages of recovery. Just over three months after her knee replacement surgery, Denise climbed the bridge alongside her husband, without any assistance.
"The hardest part was the stairs at the beginning," she says. "I was still cautious and went up one step at a time rather than stepping normally."
However, once she got going, she was able to complete the climb successfully.
"There was definitely a huge sense of achievement."
The bridge climb was just one highlight of the trip. Denise also tackled a zipline experience in New Zealand, swam with wild dolphins in Perth, and managed to walk several miles each day.
Advice for patients looking for knee replacement surgery
Denise’s message to anyone considering knee replacement surgery is simple: commit fully to the rehabilitation process.
"Exercise, exercise, exercise! Before and after surgery, follow the advice you're given and keep on top of your pain relief. Most importantly, have something to aim for. The first few weeks are crucial, and having something to focus on can make all the difference."
Just 14 weeks after surgery, Denise stood at the top of Sydney Harbour Bridge alongside her husband, achieving the goal that had motivated and inspired her recovery and proving that knee pain no longer had to hold her back.
Get knee replacement surgery at The Winterbourne Hospital
If you’d like to find out more, you can book an appointment with one of our consultants to discuss the procedure in more detail.
Tags
Sign up to our newsletter
How do I book an appointment?
If you're concerned about symptoms you're experiencing or require further information on this subject, talk to a GP or see an expert consultant at your local Circle Hospital.