STORIES & REVIEWS
Don’t just take it from us…
“I’m not just a bodybuilder or actor. I’m Zimmer Biomet’s Chief Movement Officer. The people in these stories are real, sharing their true Personalized Knee® journeys so you can see what it really feels like from those who’ve already taken the leap. They are the real deal!”
We hope their stories inspire you as much as they have inspired us.
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Zimmer Biomet Chief Movement Officer
- Senior Investment Manager
- Former Pro Athlete
- Retail Manager and Caregiver
- Retired Firefighter
VIDEO TRANSCRIPT
My name is Rachel Ramos.
I am 47 years old.
I'm a senior manager at an investment firm and I am a mother, a wife, and a dog mom of two.
My life, I would best describe it as very active, very on the go, always something to do from the moment I wake up to the moment I go to bed.
I had a total knee replacement of my left knee.
As the knee pain progressed, it got even harder just to do the simple things.
Just taking the dogs to the park became a chore.
There was always an activity that I had to say, can't make it or I'm busy, and I really wasn't.
I'm thinking in my head I'm I'm way too young to be this immobile.
My doctors simply asked me, what's your quality of life?
My answer to that question was 0.
Full knee replacement was a big deal.
I don't do anything half, it's 0 or 110.
A new knee, this I can do.
It was phrased as we're doing the procedure as a total knee replacement, but you're going to have a smart knee.
Persona IQ and that was exciting.
It was really interesting to me because I am a bit of a data geek.
I love numbers and I was able to track what was going to happen post-surgery.
It was a lot easier to make that decision knowing that I had something there with me at all times.
My new knee now has a router that is bedside.
All of the data that I'm collecting throughout the day is transmitted then at night when I sleep to my doctor.
I use the app to see my progress, to understand what I've accomplished.
There's a lot of information about my steps, the distance, make sure you're continuing to elevate and ice your knee.
Also in the morning would suggest routines.
It was these gentle reminders of you're ready to do the next bigger thing.
I'm most excited about what my knee is going to allow me to do, whether it's hiking, being able to do yoga again.
And for me, that decision gave me back that quality of life that I was missing.
Rachel Ramos
Her life moved forward and so did her knee
- 47 years old
- Senior Investment Manager
- Left knee replacement
A mom, a wife, and a dog lover with a go-go-go kind of life. But when knee pain turned everyday moments into impossible ones, she realized something had to change.
Her doctor asked one question: “What’s your quality of life?” Her answer? Zero.
That’s when Rachel decided it was time—not just for a knee replacement, but for something smarter. With Persona IQ®, her new smart knee implant that captures patient-specific gait and range of motion metrics, she got more than mobility. She got data, daily motivation, and a real-time window into her recovery.
Now she’s back to hiking, yoga, and chasing after what’s next.
VIDEO TRANSCRIPT
My name is David Cullity
I have a very long and arduous relationship with pain.
I've been an athlete my entire life, was an all-conference player in college football, and I was able to play at the next level.
While you're going through that, yeah, you've got pain.
It was just part of the deal.
You just had to work with it, and as long as it wasn't something that would sideline you as a player, you continue to play with.
That pain.
I can't tell you how many doctors I've been to about, 13 knee surgeries.
Actually, it's 15 now.
In my early 50s is when I started to really feel the results of the injuries in the past and the arthritis taking hold.
I couldn't deal with the 24/7 throbbing in my knee, the lack of mobility, not sleeping real well.
I was playing golf with the guys.
And I went to pull my ball out of the hole, and as I knelt down to pick it up, my knee basically buckled, and I, I dropped to one knee.
And what if I had had my grandbaby in my hands.
The 300 pounds plus guy at 6'7”, with that kind of possibility.
It was an eye-opener for sure.
My activity levels had dropped.
My zest for life basically had dropped and was probably not a really good person to live with at that point in time.
Physical pain is leads to emotional pain, and I got to a point where I just didn't want to deal with it anymore.
And I knew I had to do something, and that's how I received the Persona® Personalized Knee®.
That process is not easy.
I committed to myself that that's what was going to happen.
I needed to have this done.
A new knee? This I can do.
I went into it with an open mind and motivation to get through it, and I did.
It just slowly got better with the physical therapy and the rehabilitation that was going on, slow but deliberate progression.
It was like a miracle at 7 months, almost to the day at 7 months after surgery, my pain was gone, 0.
I haven't had a ounce of pain since.
It's been almost 5 years.
So having my knee replacement really kind of reset my future to be active like I was before, playing golf with my wife, playing golf with my friends, playing with the grandkids.
I've got two new knees and basically giving me my life back.
I wish I'd have done it sooner.
David Cullity
Walking proof that it's never too late
- 60 years old
- Former Pro Athlete
- Double knee replacement
David Cullity spent a lifetime pushing through pain. As a former athlete, it came with the territory—until chronic knee pain, sleepless nights, and limited mobility took over in his 50s. One day on the golf course, his knee buckled, and everything changed.
That’s when David and his specialist chose the Persona® Knee—designed to fit his unique anatomy and deliver a natural fit, feel and function.
Now, nearly five years post-surgery, he’s back on the course, playing with grandkids, and living life with energy he thought was lost.
Find out how David got his life back and why he says he wishes he’d done it sooner.
VIDEO TRANSCRIPT
I am Michelle Levert, been in retail most of my life.
I work a full time job.
I take care of my senior parents, which I love, on my feet all day as the pain started to happen more and more with my knees, it really took a toll on absolutely everything, every piece of my life. Not being able to care for my parents the way that they deserved, you know, and that was tough.
My dad was going into the office.
I was going to my room and both of us using the walker and I just said, you know, look, it's a traffic jam. It just sort of catapulted me to what do I need to do to make the change.
I was just like, man, I, I can't be like this.
It was really a tough time, very tough.
All right.
Definitely a total knee replacement was what needed to happen, but before that could happen, I needed to lose weight.
That was the biggest challenge for me.
My doctor suggested that I lose roughly 35 to 40 pounds to be able to have my surgery.
He told me that I would have a knee replacement that was personalized to me and that the type of knee replacement was going to help me get back on my feet much faster and I was going to do everything I needed to to make sure I could get myself back to being able to walk pain free and just get my life back. A new knee?
This, I can do. Before, my pain level was an 8 or a 9.
Now I can say my pain level is 0.
I've lost 38 pounds and counting.
Having this knee replacement has definitely changed my life for the better.
It's just a win-win for everyone.
Michelle Levert
From caregiver to comeback queen
- 62 years old
- Retail Manager and Caregiver
- Left knee replacement
Michelle Levert has spent most of her life on her feet—working retail full time and caring for her aging parents. But when knee pain made even basic movement difficult, everything started to suffer. One day, stuck in the hallway with her father—both using walkers—she knew something had to change.
Before surgery, Michelle set a goal to lose 40 pounds—and with determination and support from her care team, she made it happen. After experiencing the “before and after” with The Persona® Knee, she’s already planning to have her other knee done. When one knee felt better, Michelle wanted the other to keep up. She’s moving through life again—with purpose.
See how Michelle went from traffic jams to her biggest turning point yet.
VIDEO TRANSCRIPT
My name is Joe Matthews.
I was a New York City firefighter for over 22 and a half years.
My friends who became firemen were loving life and, just tell me what a great job it was.
So when I was 27 years old, I took the entrance exam.
That's kind of really what drew me to it; I knew I'd be helping people.
9-11, you know, we got assigned to the Twin Towers, and we all got to call home.
And, you know, I told my wife, it's gonna be a long day.
Tell the kids I love them and I'll see you guys when I get home.
I really didn't realize how bad my knees were until one day, when I was stepping off a curb in the snow, and I fell down.
The next day, I woke up and I couldn't put weight on one of my legs.
And I initially went with the shot, which did give me relief.
But after 6 to 7 months, the arthritic pain began to come back. And now I was faced with the decision on whether to do another shot or have my knees replaced.
The doctor did explain to me that the recovery period would be difficult.
If yeah, I'll be able to deal with it.
A new knee? This I can do.
The day of the surgery, woke up but I was still on the anesthesia, I was still extremely optimistic.
But as that slowly wore off, the next day was a complete eye opener for me because reality is setting in.
And they gave me a list of, it was 8 to 10 different exercises that I would do first thing in the morning when I get up.
After that, I would ice my knees.
Then I would sit on my couch with the CPM machine. The CPM machine, I'd have to do in the morning and in the afternoon.
You can think of a million reasons not to do something.
But, you know, nothing ventured, nothing gained.
This idea of biking across the country comes to mind. I said, I know, I'll do a fundraiser!
And everybody said, you are out of your mind.
Joe Matthews
From firefighting
to finish lines
- 66 years old
- Retired Firefighter
- Double knee replacement
For over 22 years, he served as a New York City firefighter—answering calls, saving lives, and pushing through pain without hesitation. But years of wear and tear finally caught up to him. One winter day, stepping off a curb, his knee gave out. The next morning, he couldn’t put weight on it. He found temporary relief with injections but the arthritic pain kept coming back.
When his doctor recommended knee replacement with the Persona® Knee implant, he knew it wouldn’t be easy—but neither was the job he’d done for over 20 years. Designed to fit his unique anatomy, The Personalized Knee® gave him the confidence to push through recovery.
Less than a year after surgery, he rode his bike across the country* to raise money for charity.
*Excessive activity can lead to failure of implants.
Some injections offer only temporary relief and may need to be repeated over time, according to the Arthritis Foundation. Corticosteroid risks can include temporary soreness at the injection site (typically resolves within 48 hours). Repeated shots may damage cartilage and weaken nearby tendons/ligaments. Cortisone injections are usually avoided within 3 months of joint replacement surgery. Common side effects of hyaluronic acid injection include pain, swelling, and stiffness in and around the joint. Lubrication Injections may not work for everyone.