Although choosing a skilled surgeon is the critical first step, the single most important factor for a successful outcome was my own dedicated commitment to the rehabilitation process. The surgeon's work creates the potential for improvement, but it is the patient's rigorous and consistent effort in physical therapy, diligently following movement restrictions, and slowly rebuilding strength that turns that potential into a reality. This personal dedication to recovery, even when it was difficult or painful, was the true determinant of regaining function and achieving a positive long-term result.