Patient stories
Real people.
Real recoveries.
Our patients share their experiences with orthopedic care, recovery, and returning to the lives they love.
Success stories
Getting back to what matters.
Explore stories from patients treated by the Center for Orthopedics.
Patient story
Sharon’s Story
Read the storyPatient story
Ruth Twardzik
Ruth Twardzik talks about her unique relationship with Dr. Zanotti and the pioneering procedure they both brought to Lorain County.Read the storyPatient story
Jackie Koepf
Jackie Koepf is no stranger to Center for Orthopedics. She works at UH Elyria Medical Center checking in patients. So the day after her trip to the ER for a broken wrist, she scheduled a next day check-in time at CFO’s Orthopedic Injury Clinic.Read the storyPatient story
Emily Gardner
Emily Gardner’s full ACL tear took her out of her freshman season, but she’ll be ready for sophomore year thanks to Dr. Daniel Zanotti and the PT team at CFO.Read the story
Patient story
I was happy with the surgery.
55-year-old Ralph was on a ladder cleaning out roof gutters. The ladder slid out from underneath him and he fell, landing on his back on the steps of the nearby deck.Read the story
Patient story
Second TKR Even Better Than First
Robert Pesti is almost fully recovered from his second total knee replacement and ready to take on the world. “Look for me in the Senior Olympics. I’m going to set the new record in the Senior High Jump. It’s currently 1 ft. 2 inches.”Read the storyPatient story
Choosing an Alternative to Surgery
Jackie Koepf is no stranger to Center for Orthopedics. She works at UH Elyria Medical Center checking in patients. So the day after her trip to the ER for a broken wrist, she scheduled a next day appointment at CFO’s Orthopedic Injury Clinic.Read the story
Patient story
Patient Thrilled by Results of PRP Injections
Kevin began treatment with cortisone injections, but after those had run their course, Dr. Dan Zanotti offered and educated Kevin about PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) Injections.Read the story
Patient story
Crutches to Stairs in 5 Days
Bill Moroney has been a basketball official, running the courts, for 14 years. He was running the courts when he noticed he was having issues walking and bending. He spent the next two years hating to bend a certain way or put on his right sock. After a fall shoveling snow, he started using crutches and could no longer manage steps.Read the storyPatient story
Couple Active Again Thanks to CFO
Sue and Woody Schubert live an active lifestyle. They hike, walk their dogs 5 miles a day, and Woody also enjoys running. Approximately three years ago, their fit way of life got sidelined by pain. Sue was having knee trouble while Woody’s hip was giving him problems.Read the storyPatient story
Meet Our Advanced Trained Surgeons for Robotic-Assist Joint Surgery
Mako® Robotic-Arm Assisted Technology, developed in 2006, is transforming the way joint replacement procedures are performed. Over 83,000 Mako hip and knee replacement procedures have been performed around the world since the technology’s invention and now UH Elyria Medical Center offers this technology for partial and total knee replacement and total hip replacement.Read the story
Patient story
Referred to the Right People
My wife, Rose, and I are offering our Highest Praise to Dr. Robert Zanotti and your staff at the Center for Orthopedics.Read the storyPatient story
Innovative Procedure “Gave Me My Life Back”
Grover Simpson was undergoing pain management for back, arm and shoulder problems with little relief, but when he fell and an MRI revealed that he needed to see a surgeon. That surgeon was Dr. Robert Berkowitz. Since Simpson was only thirty five, he was a candidate for Cervical Disc Replacement, which is ideal for younger patients.Read the storyPatient story
Back to Hiking & Skiing 8 Weeks Post Op
It’s a new hip, but the same zeal for cardiologist, John Schaeffer, M.D. To say he leads an “active lifestyle” would be a serious understatement. A typical bike trip would be a 50 mile excursion, his favorite skiing spots are found by helicopter, and a casual vacation is hiking overseas.Read the storyPatient story
Finding Dr. Dan Zanotti like Finding Gold
Jean Paris had been to the same doctors office for her arthritic knee pain for over six years, but only saw the doctor once. She also only experienced one course of treatment — cortisone shots. Finally she demanded something different and was offered radiofrequency ablation or nerve cauterization for pain. She had an uneasy feeling and sought a second opinion from Dr. Dan Zanotti.Read the storyPatient story
Physician is Pain Free After Lumbar Fusion
Retired physician, Dr. Paul Spierling, did not want to have back surgery for his spinal stenosis, but he knew he had to do something because of the crippling pain. His primary care physician recommended he see Dr. Robert Berkowitz.Read the storyPatient story
Rotator Cuff Damaged Beyond Repair?
Reverse Total Shoulder Replacement Relieves Pain, Restores FunctionRead the storyPatient story
Dr. Robert Zanotti: “Amazing Doctor AND Patient Advocate”
When Peg Libecap’s knee started to interfere with walking, she looked for a doctor with a good reputation and found Robert Zanotti, MD at the UH Center for Orthopedics. After seeing him for a while, and being content with cortisone shots, Peg’s left knee got so bad it essentially collapsed. It became very difficult to even administer a shot. That’s when she and Dr. Zanotti decided it was time for the total knee replacement.Read the story
Patient story
Great Experience with Hip Replacement: “CFO Runs Like a Top!”
Linda Erlenbach first learned about the Center For Orthopedics after her mother fell, broke her hip and needed emergency surgery. Dr. Robert Berkowitz had been the doctor on call. She and her mother had a great experience during that trying time, so, when Linda’s hip bursitis got too painful for cortisone shots to work, she called up CFO and was referred to Dr. Robert Zanotti.Read the story
Patient story
CFO’s Orthopedic Injury Clinic: “There’s Nothing Like It!”
Angela Simone had the vacation of a lifetime in Italy — she walked cobblestone streets, climbed the stairs to gorgeous churches and wandered in sprawling piazzas. Then she came home to growing knee pain. After a week of it getting worse instead of better, Angela knew she needed to schedule an appointment… with someone.Read the storyPatient story
CFO Advocated For My Health
Michelle Kaiser, who has been seeing Dr. Zanotti for six years for her bad knees, was frustrated getting approval for her orthovisc injections.Read the story
Patient story
Dr. Ciaccia and CFO Get 5 / 5 Stars
Darlene Gargalianos was having a relaxing time in Jamaica until she slipped on the pool deck and broke her wrist. She had never broken a bone before, but even so, she felt like the emergency room at the Montego Bay hospital in Jamaica might not done everything quite right.Read the storyPatient story
“Dr. Robert Zanotti is Blessed with a Great Talent”
Linda Zochowski fell on an icy sidewalk and landed square on her knees. Although she had surgery afterwards for a damaged meniscus, walking was never quite the same. She missed pain free activities like bowling, bike riding and walking the dog.Read the storyPatient story
Patient Drives 35 Miles to See Dr. Dan Zanotti
Brenda James and her husband came to Center for Orthopedics and Dr. Dan Zanotti for many years while they lived in Avon. When they moved to Berlin Heights, however, they had no intention of switching orthopedic doctors.Read the story
Patient story
This Shoulder – It Will Last You The Rest Of Your Life
Lisa Miloshoff first heard of Dr. Dan Zanotti eleven years ago when he did an emergency surgery on her sister’s ankle. As the pain in Lisa’s left shoulder became unbearable, she didn’t think twice about who to call.Read the storyPatient story