If You Are About To Have Knee Replacement Surgery, You Are On Your Way To A New Lease On Life!

The key question to be answered of course is WILL THE QUALITY OF LIFE BE ENHANCED BY THE OPERATION?

Replacing a knee that has been worn down and causes intense pain is the major cause for knee replacement surgery. Knee Replacements normally help to relieve pain, improve knee functions and overall quality of life of an individual who is otherwise leading the life of a dependent. As with any surgery, recovery is never easy. Expect some pain and discomfort - along with frustration over your limited ability to move around. It may help to read about experiences from other Knee Replacement patients to get a good sense what to expect. When things do get challenging - and they will, focus on the rewards of once again being able to engage in your favorite activities. With the right preparation, you can increase the odds for a faster and smoother recovery.

According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, 90 percent of people who have a knee replacement have a lot less pain. Most of these people are able to perform daily activities and stay active. In many cases, they're able to resume activities like golf and walking that their arthritic pain made them give up years ago. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has concluded that knee replacement surgery is "a safe and cost-effective treatment for alleviating pain and restoring function in patients who do not respond to non-surgical therapies."

Don't let the largest joint in your body go neglected. Whether you have osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis or you've been injured, knee pain can rob you of an active lifestyle or leave you in pain even when you are not mobile (many experience pain just while lying down). When noninvasive treatment methods aren't producing results, pain becomes increasingly severe and/or other complications arise, Center For Advanced Orthopedics and Sports Medicine providers may suggest surgery.

While there are multiple reasons a physician or surgeon may suggest surgery, here are some of the more common ailments associated with people who would benefit from a knee replacement procedure.

1) Severe pain and stiffness to the point that you limit walking, using stairs and getting in/out of chairs
2) Reliance on a walker or cane
3) Pain while lying down or resting
4) Chronic knee inflammation and swelling (regardless of the use of medication)
5) Knees that become deformed or bowed
6) Physical therapy, medications, injections and other treatments have failed

Am I an Eligible Candidate for Knee Replacement Surgery? Center For Advanced Orthopedics and Sports Medicine recommends surgery based on your pain and disability, not your age. Currently, there are no absolute restrictions for weight or age. Patients' circumstances range from degenerative knee issues associated with age to pain related to severe injury to juvenile arthritis.

What Does the Knee Replacement Procedure Involve? One of our skilled knee specialists would replace the damaged portion of the joint with a prosthetic in a procedure that takes anywhere from one to two hours. Here is a quick overview of a general knee replacement:

1) The removal of the damaged cartilage and bone is performed first. This would occur at the ends of the femur and tibia.
2) Our surgeon would then replace the removed cartilage and bone with the implant or prosthetic.
4) Depending on the patient's particular case, the patella (also known as the kneecap) would be cut and resurfaced with a plastic button.
5) Finally, a spacer would be inserted between the implanted components to give the patient a gliding surface. This not only alleviates pain, but restores alignment to the knee.

Next Steps for Knee Replacement Recovery: Most patients stay in the hospital for several days after the procedure, depending on the surgeon's recommendations. What steps you take to recover at home will play a huge role in your success story. Be sure to follow your surgeon's action plan for the following:

1) Wound care - like after most surgeries, you should avoid soaking your wound in water initially. Bandaging your wound can help prevent irritation.
2) Diet - after the surgery, it is important to restore muscle strength and aid your wound's healing process. A balanced diet and iron supplement can assist in those processes, but you should avoid excessive vitamin K intake (vitamin K can cause complications with your medication).
3) Activity - early mobilization is important, but you may need help during the first few weeks. In addition to following a program set by your doctor, you should resume normal activities (just make sure not to overdo it!).

Healthy knees are crucial to carrying out everyday activities with ease, and Center For Advanced Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, and we can help patients gain back their mobility. We offer pre surgical classes and plans to help with scheduling all pre-surgery appointments. Our approach is to make joint replacement as easy as possible for our patients. If you are wondering whether or not knee replacement surgery is an option for you, make an appointment with a member of our talented team of knee specialists. We have two locations in Maryland - Waldorf, and California.