Your knee is one of the most used joints in your body, and over time the joint can wear down until the knee itself is largely comprised of just tendon and bone. When the cartilage in the knee joint wears out with age and use, the result can be a painful and stiff knee that is difficult to use. The solution to a bad knee is usually knee replacement surgery.
Knee replacement surgery is the act of surgically removing the existing worn knee and replacing it with a synthetic knee so the patient can move with more mobility and less pain. While knee replacement surgery is the most common joint replacement surgery, it is typically the final effort to help a patient recover from a knee injury or normal wear.
Other treatments, including physical therapy, pain medication, steroid injections, and other means of knee repair, will be exhausted before you can be approved for a knee replacement surgery in most cases. Whether you are looking at replacing both knees or just one of your knees, take this surgery seriously. Here's why.
You have lots of recovery time ahead of you
When you get your knee replacement surgery, you have to have lots of physical therapy and ample rest to make sure the knee replacement has the best success. If you don't take care of your knee after you have the knee replacement surgery done, you may put yourself at risk of re-injuring your knee, needing another replacement knee surgery, or other medical risks.
You have to take it easy following knee replacement surgery, and then you have to make sure you remain active and keep a healthy weight so you can keep your new knee in great condition. If you are younger, you may want to think about alternatives before going in for a knee replacement. This is because you will likely need another knee replacement surgery within two decades.
You have lots of alternatives to consider first
As mentioned above, knee replacement surgery is typically the final effort to save your knees. Before getting it, you should seriously follow through with other attempts to save your knees and alleviate pain and inflammation. Consider reaching a normal or healthy weight to take the strain off your knees, undergoing a pain management program including massage, physical therapy, and steroid injections, or getting hyaluronic acid injections in your knees to lubricate the joints and reduce pain. Doing these things may help you realize that knee replacement surgery is inevitable.
You have many things to think about before you get your knee replacement surgery. While this is a very common joint replacement surgery, it's not to be taken lightly, and if you're really ready and prepared for it, you can have more success. Speak to your doctor about all your options before choosing knee replacement for your health. Contact a doctor for more information about knee replacement surgery.
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