The knee is the largest joint in the body and supports nearly your whole weight. This is why most visits to an Orthopaedic surgeon are related to the knee, a complex joint that can receive many injuries usually caused by trauma, misalignment, degeneration and other conditions like arthritis.

Serious complications of the knee require surgery however many minor knee pain can be treated at home with rest and the use of ice. You may have heard the term R,I,C,E, quoted for knee pain, this stands for rest, ice, compression and elevation. Many athletes use this method by staying off the knee and walking with crutches, apply ice to control the swelling, use loose fitting compression bandages and keep the leg elevated.

It is very important that you seek professional advise as soon as possible, especially if you:

Have severe pain in the knee, hear a popping noise and feel your knee give way at the time of the injury, cannot move the knee, begin limping and have swelling at the injury site.

There may come a time when knee replacement surgery is your only option especially if your in a job that places severe strain on your knees like a carpet fitter or you may be very active in sports. Knee replacement surgery involves replacing the weight-bearing surface of the knee joint in order to relieve pain and disability. There are two forms of knee replacement surgery with either full knee replacement or partial knee replacement surgery. In general the diseased or damaged joint surfaces of the knee will be replaced with metal and plastic components that are shaped to allow the knee to move without restriction.

After your knee replacement surgery there will be a considerable amount of pain through the vigorous rehabilitation routines necessary to regain both strength and function in the knee. It can take up to 6 weeks before you are able to walk with the aid of a stick and up to 3 months for total recovery back to normal mobility.

Although complications in knee surgery are very low, infection of the joint is the most serious of complication which occurs in less than 1% of patients. Other potential problems are nerve injuries, deep vein thrombosis and persistant pain or stiffness.