Ready for that knee replacement surgery?
Knee replacement surgery is the main solution for anyone suffering from severe knee pain and mobility issues, primarily due to arthritis or injury. In the U.S., this is one of the most common interventions people get, and according to the American Joint Replacement Registry (AJRR), over 3.1 million primary and revision hip and knee arthroplasty procedures were performed between 2012 and 2022. This is a 23% increase from the previous year!
Even more, patient outcomes are great, with about 90% of individuals experiencing significant pain relief and improved quality of life post-surgery. The knee implants are also incredibly durable, 80% of them lasting more than 20 years. All of these show that knee replacement surgery is life-changing, and if your doctor recommends it, you should get it.
But with all of these positive aspects, this is still a major procedure that requires careful consideration and understanding. This is why this article might be helpful for you. Here are some essential facts you need to know before your surgery!
What is knee replacement surgery?
First of all, it is important to know what this surgery is and what makes it so important. Your knee is made up of three parts: the femur, the tibia, and the patella, or kneecap. They all come together and make movement possible. Also, each of these parts has cartilage at their endings because your body needs them so things can feel and move smoothly.
Has your doctor ever told you that “you are bone on bone?” If this happened and you were a little confused about its meaning, well, now you know that this means your cartilage is worn out because of osteoarthritis, and now your bones are literally touching one another when you move, which causes terrible pain.
During knee replacement surgery, the doctor will eliminate the “broken” parts of your knee and replace them with plastic and metal implants. In this way, you will be able once again to move normally.
Generally, full knee replacement surgery is the most common type of surgery, but sometimes partial knee replacement might be recommended. If just one or two of the parts of your knee are damaged, your surgeon might consider that a partial replacement can be more suitable for you.
Do you need a knee replacement?
Most of the time, your doctor will try to find treatments that are non-surgical. No one wants to perform surgery if it is not mandatory. And some people are lucky and can recover only with physical therapy. This is amazing, and this is also the reason why you should never doubt your doctor’s advice. Maybe all of your friends had knee replacement surgery, but if you don’t need it and can become as good as new just with some exercises and regular cortisone injections, you don’t need to start suspecting your doctor is not a true professional.
Cortisone is a very efficient steroid that can be safely given every three months to help ease pain. If this is working, you can follow this treatment for the rest of your life. There are also other injectable treatment options such as hyaluronic acid and platelet-rich plasma (PRP), but scientific evidence is not clear regarding their effectiveness in treating chronic arthritis pain.
So, your pain level is the indicator you and your doctor should use when determining if you need knee replacement surgery or not. If your symptoms can no longer be managed with injection, then it might be time for surgery.
Is recovery scary?
Well, some level of pain is expected in the following weeks after surgery, but over-the-counter pills should successfully take care of it. Acetaminophen or ibuprofen work wonders in this case.
Right now, all the medication that exists and the nerve blocks given during surgery make things very comfortable for patients in the first couple of days after surgery. Most patients are afraid of the pain, but this should no longer be a concern. Many people go for check-ins in the weeks after surgery, and they tell the doctors that it wasn’t that bad after all.
It is true that you’ll need to use a walker and a cane for a few weeks, but this should not be a problem for most people considering that they will feel better and better with each passing day.
Then you will need to do physical therapy, and this can last for about six to eight weeks. Many hospitals will assign you a therapist who will come to your home, but you can also choose to go to a therapy center on your own.
Are there any risks?
The knee replacement surgery takes from 90 minutes to two hours, and during this time the surgeon will make a vertical cut in front of your knee. Before the surgery, you will discuss whether you need local or general anesthesia, as both are excellent options.
According to specialty studies, regional anesthesia is better because you will have fewer complications, and your hospital stay will also be shorter. There are also patients who go home on the same day as the surgery.
The most common risk associated with knee replacement surgery is blood loss. But for the past 15 years, tranexamic acid has been used during surgery to provide clot stabilization and, in the end, reduce postoperative blood loss.
Another smaller risk is damage to the nerve and surrounding ligaments. Also, you can also have problems with your knee even after surgery. But more than 90% had better knee function for the next 10 to 15 years, so you will most probably be fine.
Replacing both knees at the same time?
Having osteoarthritis in both of your knees is not uncommon, and as a result, you might need surgery for both knees. This is why there are people who go through a double knee replacement surgery, but this is not a rule, and you should choose what is the most suitable for you.
Doctors don’t generally recommend having surgery on both knees at the same time because the recovery will be more difficult. Also, the chances of collisions become higher. This is why it is usually recommended to have the first surgery and then wait two to three months before you get the second surgery. It is better to have a leg you can stand on before the second intervention.
There are people who had two knee surgeries a couple of months apart, and they recovered incredibly well. Some of them report that years later they are able to play tennis, walk, hike, ride bikes, and so on.
How do you feel about knee replacement surgery after you’ve read this article? Does it sound as scary as it used to? As you can see, you don’t need to be afraid because we live in a time when post-op pain can be managed incredibly effectively, and the risks are very, very low.
If you have experience with this type of surgery, tell us more in the comments since our readers are eager to find out more about this, and personal experience is the best way!
Are you experiencing knee pain? You should go to the doctor, but meanwhile, you can also try this and see if it works for you: Bracoo Knee Support Brace for Men Women, Adjustable Compression Sleeve Wrap
You should also read: 8 Reasons Why Sitting Too Much Is BAD for Your Health
