During his time in office as president of the country, he struggled with the issues of running the country. But he was also facing a struggle that he was battling in silence and in grave pain.

The former president was suffering from extreme pain in his knees, initially damaged by his physical injuries as an actor, the pain was exacerbated by the degeneration of his joints.

"Mr. Estrada suffered from osteoarthritis, a disease of the degeneration of the joints due to wear and tear. Although most commonly seen among patients in middle and advanced age, it is also seen in younger patients especially among those who have had active lifestyles," said world-renowned orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Christopher Mow.

Erap was feeling the worst of his arthritic knees.

In his account of his condition prior to the knee replacement surgery, Erap shared, "I was walking like a duck, waddling, bowlegged (sakang), because my knees were bearing the brunt of years of being arthritic, sobrang magang maga na ang mga tuhod ko."

Mr. Estrada knew that he needed to do something about his condition or see his life go to waste. He decided to take control of his life and seek the help of the experts.

Knowing his knees’ condition, a team of his personal physicians had advised him to undergo total knee replacement surgery.

"I was under extreme pain so my movements were very much limited. On top of the pain, sakang pa ako dahil sa grabe ng arthritis ko. And I know lots of Filipinos who suffer from severe arthritis. So my advice to them, don’t suffer in silence anymore, may choice naman kayo at magtanong sa doktor ninyo tungkol sa knee replacement surgery and get back on your feet."

Erap underwent knee replacement surgery in December 2004. His personal physician, Dr. Lorenzo Hocson shared the account of Erap’s surgery, "When his knees were opened, there was practically no cartilage around the knee joints. Whereas the bones should be smooth, his were already scratched, like it was filed with sandpaper."

His surgeons added that tissues around Erap’s knees were removed because they were already useless. Fortunately, the three-and-a-half hour operation went smoothly. Bone and cartilage at the end of the thighbones and top of shinbones were removed and titanium implants were cemented into place to function as the new knee joints.

According to his personal physicians "If he hadn’t undergone surgery the moment he did, Erap would have risked not being able to walk for the rest of his life."

"I’m just glad that I can walk straight again. But what I’m most happy about is I no longer experience spasms of pain around my knee day in and day out. Before, I would actually hear my knees crackling when I walked and sometimes I would even wake up in the middle of the night because my knees were hurting so much," he said.

For the past 20 years, total joint replacement surgery has been performed throughout the country, both in private and government hospitals.

"The implants used in joint replacement surgery here in the Philippines are of the same kind, made of the same components and of the same quality with those used in any part of the world," stressed Dr. Antonio Tanchuling, president of the Philippine Hip and Knee Society.

Erap now stands half an inch taller with his titanium knees as his posture was also corrected. "I can say that the walls and corners of my rest house (in Tanay, Rizal) are witnesses to my improvement. Every morning I wake up as if I have been given a brand new start. I was able to do my own gardening, exercise, and I sit only when I’m tired. I feel like I could even walk the whole day with these knees. So learn from me, don’t suffer in silence anymore, be empowered and take control of your life again," said Erap.

Arthritis is a very common disease afflicting many Filipinos; some have it so severe that the quality of their life has suffered.