In our experience, surgery is rarely the first or only knee pain treatment option. But at some point, these non-surgical options may no longer provide the relief or healing power they once did. Or maybe your mobility has continued to decline, making regular physical therapy and exercise increasingly painful. If any of this sounds familiar, it may be time to start the conversation around a knee replacement. Make an appointment. We all feel an occasional twinge in our knees after a long car ride or a long day on our feet.
While annoying, this is totally normal — and these aches are usually gone almost as quickly as they appeared. Pain feels a little different for everyone, but there are some common types of pain we tell our patients to pay attention to, including:. This nagging and disruptive knee pain can be a sign that joint wear and tear is getting worse.
And the more worn out your joint becomes, the more complicated knee replacement surgery and recovery can be. As we already mentioned, there may be some additional non-surgical treatments that may be able to help. Or, if you and your doctor decide you are a candidate for a replacement, you can time your knee replacement surgery just right so you can get the most benefit from the procedure.
But persistent knee stiffness that effects your mobility can be a sign of a more complicated knee concern. What do you need to be on the lookout for? These are the most common mobility issues we see in our patients when we begin discussing knee replacement surgery:.
One of the most important things to keep in mind here is that losing mobility can effect more than just your ability to get around. As mobility decreases, inactivity increases.
Your doctor or anesthesiologist might advise you to stop taking certain medications and dietary supplements before your surgery. You'll likely be instructed not to eat anything after midnight the day of your surgery.
For several weeks after the procedure, you might need to use crutches or a walker, so arrange for them before your surgery. Make sure you have a ride home from the hospital and help with everyday tasks, such as cooking, bathing and doing laundry. If you live alone, your surgeon's staff or hospital discharge planner can suggest a temporary caretaker. Knee replacement surgery requires anesthesia. Your input and preference help the team decide whether to use general anesthesia, which makes you unconscious, or spinal anesthesia, which leaves you awake but unable to feel pain from your waist down.
You'll be given an intravenous antibiotic before, during and after the procedure to help prevent post-surgical infection. You might also be given a nerve block around your knee to numb it. The numbness wears off gradually after the procedure. Your knee will be in a bent position to expose all surfaces of the joint. After making an incision about 6 to 10 inches 15 to 25 centimeters long, your surgeon moves aside your kneecap and cuts away the damaged joint surfaces.
After preparing the joint surfaces, the surgeon attaches the pieces of the artificial joint. Before closing the incision, he or she bends and rotates your knee, testing it to ensure proper function. The surgery lasts about two hours. You'll be taken to a recovery room for one to two hours.
How long you stay after surgery depends on your individual needs. Many people can go home that same day. Medications prescribed by your doctor should help control pain. You'll be encouraged to move your foot and ankle, which increases blood flow to your leg muscles and helps prevent swelling and blood clots.
You'll likely receive blood thinners and wear support hose or compression boots to further protect against swelling and clotting. You'll be asked to do frequent breathing exercises and gradually increase your activity level. A physical therapist will show you how to exercise your new knee. After you leave the hospital, you'll continue physical therapy at home or at a center.
Do your exercises regularly, as instructed. For the best recovery, follow all of your care team's instructions concerning wound care, diet and exercise. Previous Next. View Larger Image. This common procedure can help reduce pain and restore your ability to move better. Follow Us. Related Posts.
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