Debbie spent more than a decade battling bone-on-bone arthritis in both knees. The pain slowed her down, she gained weight, and by 2023, even walking to get the mail was excruciating. She couldn’t stand without support.
Debbie’s first doctor refused surgery until her BMI dropped. He prescribed physical therapy. Though painful at first, six months of PT helped her lose 60–70 pounds and regain flexibility and strength.
“My physical therapist really worked with me even though it was incredibly painful. Simply moving my joints allowed my muscles to wake up enough so I could move more easily,” Debbie recalls.
Her original surgeon still wasn’t impressed. Frustrated, Debbie looked into robotic, muscle-sparing knee surgery and found Dr. Ron Hudanich.
In February 2024, Debbie met Dr. Hudanich. He felt confident operating despite her remaining weight because of her PT commitment. By April 2024, she’d had her left knee replaced—with no muscle cutting—and was back in therapy just two days later. In 12 weeks, her mobility was the best it had ever been.
“Dr. Hudanich is compassionate, kind and he made me feel very confident from the moment I met him… a compassionate doctor who believes in you can make all the difference,” she says.
Five months of post-op rehab and additional weight loss later, she was ready for her right knee. Two months after that surgery, Debbie was walking 10,000 steps daily in St. Augustine—something she couldn’t have done a year earlier. Five months post-surgery, she’s “a million times better.” She’s pain-free, independent, and playing with her grandchildren again.
“Even at 66 years of age, I feel as good as I did as a young mother chasing my kids around… Dr. Hudanich gave me my life back.”
The team at Greater Orlando Orthopedic Group offers both surgical and non-surgical solutions for arthritis, injuries, and degenerative conditions—using minimally invasive, robotic-assisted techniques when appropriate. Their goal? Help you return to the things you love, with personalized, compassionate care.
Our core specialties
Total Knee & Hip Replacement
Shoulder, Hand & Wrist Surgery
Foot & Ankle Care
Sports Medicine
Orthopedic Trauma & Fracture Management
Brian Vickaryous, MD: “I fixed a misdiagnosed hamstring/tendon rupture—7 months later the patient was skiing pain-free.”
Robert Meuret, MD: “Tore my meniscus… 7 weeks later, I was golf-ready with virtually no visible scar.”
Ron Hudanich, DO: “After my knee replacement, I was walking normally in 6 weeks and feeling great in 2 months.”
If pain, arthritis, or injury is holding you back, expert help is just a call away. The Greater Orlando Orthopedic Group team combines advanced technology—like robotic-assisted surgery—with years of experience and genuine compassion. Let’s get you back on your feet.
Call today: (407) 977‑4130
