How Do I Know When It's Time to Consider Surgery?
There are several reasons why your doctor may recommend knee replacement surgery. People who benefit from knee replacement surgery often have:
- Knee pain that limits everyday activities, such as walking or bending
- Knee pain that continues while resting, either day or night
- Stiffness in a knee that limits the ability to move or bend the leg
- Inadequate pain relief from anti-inflammatory drugs, physical therapy, or walking supports
Important Safety Notes:
Knee replacement surgery is intended to relieve knee pain and improve knee functions. However, implants may not produce the same feel or function as your original knee. There are potential risks with knee replacement surgery such as loosening, fracture, dislocation, wear and infection that may result in the need for additional surgery. Longevity of implants depends on many factors, such as types of activities and weight. Do not perform high impact activities such as running and jumping unless your surgeon tells you the bone has healed and these activities are acceptable. Early device failure, breakage or loosening may occur if you do not follow your surgeon's limitations on activity level. Early failure can happen if you do not guard your knee joint from overloading due to activity level, failure to control body weight or accidents such as falls. Talk to your doctor to determine what treatment may be best for you.
All information provided on this website is for information purposes only. Every patient's case is unique and each patient should follow his or her doctor's specific instructions. Please discuss nutrition, medication and treatment options with your doctor to make sure you are getting the proper care for your particular situation. If you are seeking this information in an emergency situation, please call 911 and seek emergency help.
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