Physical therapy helping her become active again

Evelyn Marlow works at Bay Area Rehabilitation Center in human resources and accounts payable.

“My left knee blew out about two years ago. It got to the point where the pain felt like someone was driving a knife under my kneecap. I bulled my way through it for a while, but I finally realized it was just wearing me down. So I had a total knee replacement. Because I had no cartilage left in either knee, I’m going to be doing the other one in about 6-9 months.

“I receive therapy on my knee three days a week, and I’m seeing big improvement. There are times when it really hurts, but you just have to keep focused on your goals and get through it. This isn’t my first time doing therapy. Osteoarthritis was eating away the joints in my hands, so I’ve had two hand surgeries. Sometimes I feel like I’m falling apart, one set of joints at a time.”

What motivates you to do the therapy?
“I want full use of my legs again. I don’t want to be crippled. I’m too young and too active. I’m not a sedentary person. I’m used to moving and doing things. I have adult grandkids. I have a new grandbaby that will be born in August. So I want to be able to do things with them.”

— Evelyn Marlow