Isabelle Gundaker, 63, was an accomplished long-distance runner before arthritis in her hip sent her to the sidelines. Even the simple act of sleeping at night proved to be too painful for the former Boston Marathoner. In stepped Dr. Richard Rothman.

“Little by little, I was giving up all my favorite activities – running and tennis, golf, bicycling and even walking became painful,” said Gundaker, from Cinnaminson, N.J.

Then a tennis partner told Isabelle about how pleased he was with his recent hip transplant. Informed that Dr. Rothman was the orthopaedic surgeon who performed the operation, Isabelle decided to make an appointment.

“He told me it would give me my life back, and that’s exactly what it did!” Advised by Dr. Rothman that she would be able to run again, Isabelle instead opted for a wide variety of sports activities.

A short eight weeks after surgery, Isabelle began playing tennis, golf, bicycling and even rollerblading – thoroughly enjoying an active lifestyle once again. “The whole process was so much easier than I expected. I was pleasantly surprised. My biggest regret is that I waited so long,” explains Isabelle. “If my other hip goes, I won’t wait so long.”