Overcoming Her Fear Gets Freddie Mae Back in the Groove

Freddie Mae, 63, first started experiencing pain in her right knee in the early ‘90’s.  Gradually, her walk became unbalanced, her knee began to swell, and her step turned into a drag.  It wasn’t until April 2005 that she overcame her fear of the unknown and decided to get a partial knee replacement. 

Prior to opting for her joint replacement procedure, Freddie Mae lessened her pain with medication and alternative methods of comfort.  “I would get shots in my knee, which provided an artificial cushion,” she noted.  “I used a cane; I wore a brace; nothing worked.”  Eventually, her arthritis pain became such a burden that another source of relief was necessary. 

Now looking back, she admits that before getting the surgery, fear was in fact the only thing holding her back.  “Like many African Americans, I had a fear of surgery in general,” admits Freddie Mae.  “Now, my only regret is that I didn’t do it sooner.”

Now Freddie Mae is “back in the groove,” being active and living life to the fullest. Freddie Mae’s face lights up when she talks about her newfound comfort and freedom, “I can’t imagine living with it; I wouldn’t take that old knee back for a million dollars!”