DePuy Orthopaedics Inc. will launch a new osteoarthritis awareness campaign today. The new campaign features the coach of the U.S. Olympic Team for Men’s Basketball and Duke University, Mike “Coach K” Krzyzewski, who is the winningest coach in Division I college basketball, having led Duke to four NCAA® national championship titles and winning 12 National Coach of the Year honors. But it wasn’t until he was forced to consider quitting coaching because of his experience with osteoarthritis, a painful degenerative joint condition, that he realized it was time to deal with the problem and undergo hip replacement surgery. Now Coach K is sharing his journey with those who are at a crossroads regarding what they should do about their severe joint pain. Coach K is participating in the “Had I Known Then” educational campaign today, which features a new series of “letters of wisdom” from Ellyn Spragins – author of the popular book series “Letters to My Younger Self®”– in which she helps people, like Coach K, write letters to their younger selves regarding their experiences with OA and how joint replacement changed their lives. By sharing stories from people who learned from their own journey, this booklet helps people living with severe hip and knee pain overcome the barriers that are hindering them from taking the next step. Coach K’s letter, found inside the “Had I Known Then” educational booklet, will be available online at www.HadIKnownThen.com
