Sandie Knopf is an active woman who enjoys skiing, tennis, weight training, cooking and dancing. Unfortunately, she suffers from osteoarthritis (OA) of the shoulder. OA is generally a progressive disease, but in Sandie's case, degeneration from OA occurred rapidly over a year.

OA is a degenerative joint disease characterized by the loss of cartilage that cushions the ends of the bones--causing significant pain, loss of movement and deformity. It is one of the most common forms of arthritis, affecting more than 40 million Americans, including nearly half of the elderly, and more than a quarter of the population between the ages of 45 and 64. But it can also strike at younger ages.

As her condition progressed, Sandie was no longer able to lift her hands above her elbows. That meant she could no longer dress herself, wash her hair, drive, or most importantly, pick up her infant granddaughter. She couldn't even carry a purse. Sandie was in constant pain. "My sense of independence was gone. I was afraid of falling and being unable to protect myself," She recalls.

Due to the severe nature of her illness, Sandie underwent two total shoulder replacement surgeries in 2004. This highly technical surgery involves replacing the head of the upper arm bone and the shoulder socket. The implants used in her surgery had recently been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The unique features of these implants made her surgery a success.

Today, Sandie has her independence back. Her pain is minimal and she can dress herself, drive, use her computer and play with her granddaughter. "Now I can hug my husband without fear of pain in my arms," she says.

Sandie feels grateful for her shoulder surgery especially for the implant device which had only recently become available. Funded research can make it possible to further improve the design features of joint implants, increase the rate of bone growth, examine the longevity of implant devices and their functions, and offer patients a return to their daily living activities. Equally important is continued funding for research into the causes of OA, thus potentially helping many OA sufferers avoid years of pain and disability, while retaining their independence and lifestyle.

Sandie is an example of how advancement in medical technology can alter a person's life. "I would not have had my normal life restored without the improved design of my total shoulder implants," says Sandie.