When Dr. Adam Sadler of St. Luke’s Orthopedic Care first recommended robotic-assisted knee replacement to Meredith Oliver, she resisted.
Oliver, a Milford, N.J. resident, had tried several conservative treatments — fluid drainage, cortisone shots and gel injections — without finding lasting relief for her left knee. Still, she wasn’t eager to face the inconvenience and recovery that come with knee replacement surgery.
Nearly 3 ½ years after her October 2022 procedure, Oliver now concedes that Dr. Sadler was right.
“I feel good,” Oliver, 61, said during a recent phone interview. “I’m doing everything I want to be doing.
“My care was excellent,” she added. “Dr. Sadler or someone from their office was always available if I had a question. Every time I called, I received an answer within 24 hours.”
“Meredith’s dedication to her recovery is what truly made the difference,” says Dr. Sadler. “Robotic-assisted knee replacement gives us incredible precision, but it’s patients like Meredith — motivated, engaged and determined — who achieve outstanding outcomes.”
Oliver’s need for a knee replacement stemmed from an injury 43 years earlier, when a car accident severed her quadriceps tendon. Doctors told her she would likely develop arthritis in her early 30s, but she didn’t — managing instead what she describes as “more annoyance than pain.” She compensated by adjusting her gait and kept moving forward.
She raised three children, stayed active, and at 50 became a certified personal trainer and instructor. She even co-opened a gym with one of her classmates.
Although she managed her discomfort for years, the pain and swelling eventually intensified, especially during spin classes. That’s when she sought medical care. To meet insurance requirements, Oliver spent about 10 months undergoing injections before being approved for knee replacement surgery.
She ultimately underwent robotic-assisted knee replacement at St. Luke’s Warren Campus in October 2022. Afterward, she completed about 10 weeks of physical therapy at St. Luke’s Hillcrest Plaza in Phillipsburg — and felt supported every step of the way.
“The experience was pretty amazing,” she said. “Everybody there made me feel comfortable.”
Her physical therapist echoed that sentiment.
Daniel Aquino, DPT, of Physical Therapy at St. Luke’s, said, “Meredith approached therapy with the same focus and determination she brings to her fitness career. She consistently pushed herself, stayed positive, and followed her program exactly, which is a huge reason she recovered so well.”
Today, Oliver remains committed to fitness. She and her business partner recently sold their gym after 10 years in business, and she plans to convert her basement into a private workout space.
In the meantime, she has plenty to keep her moving: five grandchildren under the age of six. With her knee feeling strong, she’s ready to keep up with all of them.
“My knee is strong,” she said. “Sometimes I think my left leg is stronger than my right. I feel good.”
