How Total Knee Replacement is Helping John Go the Distance

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Amy Wasterlain, MD

Dr. Amy Wasterlain is a fellowship trained hip and knee surgeon at Middlesex Orthopedic & Spine Associates.

John was an avid runner, a track star in his youth, and a distance runner in his adulthood. So when he began experiencing serious pain in his right knee, he feared his marathon days were over.

John was no stranger to injury. In his senior year of high school, he tore his ACL doing the long jump. Citing concerns about the effectiveness of ACL reconstruction at the time, John opted not to have surgery, and the ligament tear effectively ended his young running career.

After seeing advances in ACL treatment, John underwent surgery at age 36, and the procedure enabled him to begin running again. At first progress was slow, but as his stamina grew, he discovered his passion for distance running. By the time he turned 40, he had run his first marathon. Since then, John has completed more than 30 marathons.

But as the cartilage in his right knee wore down, the likelihood of finishing more races – and his quality of life in general – was diminishing. “I felt good when I ran, but when I walked on uneven surfaces, I could feel the bones in my knee ‘banging’ into each other. I even fell sometimes,” John explained. Range of motion was also a concern. “I couldn’t even straighten my leg all the way.”

John continued to run while searching for solutions. He tried hyaluronic acid and platelet-rich plasma injections, but neither provided lasting relief. He met with a series of orthopedic surgeons to discuss his options. The first three he spoke to recommended a total knee replacement, and counseled him to stop distance running after his surgery.

Then, John met with Dr. Amy Wasterlain, knee and hip replacement surgeon at Middlesex Orthopedics & Spine Associates. From the start, her approach was different. While Dr. Wasterlain also recommended a total knee replacement, she told John that if his knee felt good post-surgery, there was no reason he couldn’t return to running.

“Understanding a patient’s goals is critical to providing the best orthopedic care,” Dr. Wasterlain said. “My priority was to help John get back to doing what he loved.”

After his discussions with other surgeons left him worried he might not run again, John felt like Dr. Wasterlain had given him a new lease on life. “Did you just say what I think you said?” John recalled asking Dr. Wasterlain when he heard Dr. her assessment.

In December of 2023, Dr. Wasterlain performed John’s total right knee replacement, and the procedure was a success. John stressed not only Dr. Wasterlain’s skill, but the importance of her positivity and good humor. “I remember it wasn’t long after surgery, and she and I were joking about my implant making me like the Six Million Dollar Man.”

His post-surgery rehabilitation was equally successful, bolstered by John’s dedication to his physical therapy. The pain in his knee was gone completely, he was back training for distance running, and his quality of life improved.

“I’m climbing ladders again, doing things I was afraid to try before. I have absolute confidence in this thing,” John said of his new knee.

Recently, John completed the Maine Marathon, his first full marathon since having his knee replaced – and he did it in style. He finished the race in 3:46:09, an impressive time that earned him a coveted qualification for the Boston Marathon in the spring of 2026.

“My first goal was just to still be walking,” John said of reaching the finish line in Maine. “This was my Everest. I told myself, ‘Whatever you do, don’t break down crying.”

Now, with a successful marathon under his belt, John’s competitive nature is back. He is challenging himself to get his times down – setting new “new-knee” personal records – and he’s proud of how far he’s come. At home, he displays his marathon medals on the wall. For years, the most recent was from 2020.

“Here I am now,” John beamed, “with a 2025 hanging on the wall.”

Featured Doctor

Amy Wasterlain, MD

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