Demystifying Total Knee Replacement: Your Guide to Pain Relief and Mobility Restoration
Whether you are in the initial stages of exploring treatment options or have already decided to undergo knee replacement surgery, this information will assist you in understanding the advantages and limitations of total knee replacement.
When your knee is affected by arthritis, a fracture, or other conditions, everyday activities like walking or sitting in a chair can become uncomfortable and challenging. You may experience stiffness in your knee, making it difficult to put on shoes and socks. Even during rest, you might feel discomfort in the affected knee.
In situations where medications impede your daily activities and walking supports fail to provide sufficient relief, knee replacement surgery becomes a viable consideration. This procedure is both efficient and safe, offering the potential to alleviate pain, improve mobility, and enable you to resume your regular activities with ease.
Do You Need Total Knee Replacement Surgery?
Indeed, the decision to undergo knee replacement surgery should be a collaborative effort, involving you, your primary care doctor, your family, and your orthopedic surgeon. Typically, the process of arriving at this decision starts with your doctor referring you to an orthopedic surgeon for an initial evaluation.
When Surgery Is Suggested?
Your doctor may advise knee replacement surgery for numerous reasons. Individuals who tend to benefit from this procedure typically have:
- Knee discomfort that makes daily tasks like walking and bending difficult
- continuous knee discomfort throughout the day and night while resting.
- unable to move leg because of knee stiffness.
- Walking, physical therapy, and anti-inflammatory medications all provide insufficient pain relief.
Potential Surgical Patients
There are no strict age or weight limitations for total knee replacement surgery. The decision for surgery depends on the patient’s pain and disability, not their age. While a majority of patients undergoing total knee replacement are typically between fifty to eighty years old, medical professionals assess each patient individually. Total knee replacements have proven successful across different age groups, ranging from young adolescents with juvenile inflammatory disease to elderly patients with osteoarthritis.
Analysis of the medical science
An associate medical science physician’s analysis includes a number of different aspects, including:
Medical history: Your medical physician will collect information about your overall health, inquire about the intensity of your knee pain, and assess your functional capabilities.
Physical examination: This can evaluate the total leg alignment, stability, strength, and knee motion.
X-rays: These images make it easier to determine the severity of the damage and deformity to your knee.
Other tests – To determine the state of the bone and soft tissues in your knee, further tests like blood work or sophisticated imaging, such as an MRI scan, may be needed.
Making a decision to have knee replacement surgery
One crucial aspect of deciding whether or not to undergo total knee replacement surgery is understanding what the procedure can and cannot accomplish.
The majority of individuals who undergo total knee replacement surgery report a significant reduction in knee pain and a remarkable improvement in their ability to perform everyday activities of daily living.
During regular use and activity, the plastic spacer in each knee replacement implant gradually wears down. Engaging in excessive activity or carrying excess weight can accelerate this normal wear and may lead to loosening of the knee replacement, resulting in pain. The majority of surgeons strongly advise avoiding engaging in high-impact activities for the remainder of your life following surgery, including jogging, running, leaping, and other high-impact sports.
Realistic activities after total knee replacement include unrestricted walking, swimming, golfing, driving, mild hiking, biking, ballroom dancing, and other low-impact sports.
Potential Surgery Complications
Following a complete knee replacement, complications are rare. Less than 2% of individuals experience serious problems, including an infection of the knee joint. Major medical complications like heart attacks or strokes are even rarer. The presence of chronic diseases could increase the potential for complications. Although these complications are uncommon, when they do occur, they may prolong or limit the full recovery process.
Before surgery, make sure to fully discuss your concerns with your doctor.
Infections – Infections can develop in the wound or deep around the implant after the surgery. These infections may manifest within days, weeks, or even years following the procedure. Antibiotics are typically used to treat minor infections near the site. However, major or deep infections may require more extensive surgical intervention, potentially leading to the removal of the implant. It is essential to be aware that any infection in your body can spread to your joint replacement, so prompt attention and appropriate treatment are crucial to prevent complications.
Blood clots – One of the most common complications of knee replacement surgery is the formation of blood clots within the leg veins. These clots can be serious if they dislodge and travel to your lungs. Your orthopedic physician will establish a prevention plan, which may include regularly elevating your legs, performing lower leg exercises to improve circulation, using support stockings, and prescribing blood-thinning medications.
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