Gwendolyn Garrett Joly

I have suffered from knee arthritis for many years. I have tried several treatments; gel injections, physical therapy, acupuncture, and OTC medications. They worked for a while, but the pain was getting worse. I decided to take the plunge and have a consultation with Dr. Gausden re. total knee replacement. I am so glad I did! I was apprehensive considering the down time and total recovery time, but I knew I had to have the surgery. It is now 18 months later and I feel like a new woman! I was not able to ride a bike, stand or walk for long periods of time. I can now do all of those things and more. The pictures I included with my story show three sets of stairs in Fort Greene Park in Brooklyn. They total approximately 100 steps. I can walk and run up and down those steps with no pain! I can also ride a bike and walk my dog 6 miles a day. I am so happy that I had the surgery. It has improved my quality of life immensely. Thank you Dr. Gausden and HSS!

December 15, 2025:

I had a total knee replacement at HSS in October of this year, and I never considered any other hospital or doctor. Dr. Gausden was exceptional - always ready to answer my questions, incredibly professional, and easy to talk to. My stay at the hospital was completely stress-free.

I highly recommend HSS to anyone considering major surgery. I also want to give a special shout-out to the amazing staff who made my experience so positive: Nurses Shanaz, Kelly, Dana, and Shabazz; PT Shavanni; and Anna, the floor supervisor. I even had a visit from the hospital chaplain, Margot Heda. Although I’m not very religious, her visit and comforting words meant a lot to me.

I’m doing well in physical therapy now, and my goal is to ride a bike by early spring. Thanks to the outstanding care I received at HSS, I’m confident I’ll achieve that goal.