Knee Replacement: What You Should Know

There are three general kinds of knee replacement – the total knee, the unicompartmental and patellofemoral.

What is knee replacement surgery?

Knee replacement surgery is a surgical procedure used to replace damaged cartilage and bone (bone and cartilage wears away) with an artificial surface to enhance knee movement and relieve pain. There are three general kinds of knee replacement – the total knee, the unicompartmental and patellofemoral. The total knee is the most common type of knee replacement surgery. It involves replacing the entire knee.

The unicompartmental knee replacement, the most common, consists of taking cartilage from the thigh and groin and grafting it onto the knee. The patellofemoral knee replacement involves the same surgery, but instead of using the thigh or groin, the graft is taken from the small lower leg, and it replaces the damaged femur and patella, also called the knee cap.

How does the surgeon decide which type of knee replacement to use for you?

The most common questions are why should we choose the right replacement for us? How do we choose the right kind of knee replacement? All knee replacements work the same way; however, they have different goals in mind. It can take months to decide on the best choice for you.

What are the precautions after surgery?

As with any major surgical procedure, patients are given instructions by their doctor and advised not to drive or operate heavy machinery for a few weeks after surgery.

post-operative pain must be kept under control by having regular medication.

supervised exercise is recommended in a clinic or in the gym until your doctor allows you to move on your own.

bone may take time to heal, so it is important to take it easy and do only light exercise until it is fully healed.

most patients need some rehabilitation before they can start doing light exercise on their own.

return to activities such as picking up children and walking short distances (10-15 minutes) without pain before you're allowed to return to your normal activities is the general timeframe for this.

What are the alternatives to knee replacement surgery?

The alternative to knee replacement surgery is the traditional method of exercising your knee, which, unless you are in good shape and get sufficient exercise, is not an effective way of improving your knee health. Yoga, exercises such as walking and swimming are also alternatives to knee replacement surgery.

Knee replacement surgery is a common procedure and is done for arthritis that makes your knee pain and swellings severe. There are different techniques of knee replacement surgery:

Total knee replacement

The total knee replacement is a single knee replacement surgery. It is less invasive compared to the other two types. It is the most commonly done surgery to replace the knees.

When should I have a knee replacement?

Each knee is a different structure so the decision to have surgery should be made based on what is best for you. Check out my previous article on joint pain here if you are unsure of your options.

How long is the recovery time?

The average hospital stay for knee replacement surgery is 2.5 to 3 weeks. A person can return to normal activities immediately following surgery or can continue to rehabilitate with restrictions and modifications to improve their mobility and range of motion. In most cases, however, people may need to take pain medications for the first few days.

What if I have an injury?

If you have recently hurt your knee, please consult your doctor and don't try to put pressure on your knee before consulting with a doctor. Your doctor may recommend a knee replacement.

Conclusion

Knee replacement surgery is the most successful procedure used to cure degenerative knee disease, but before going for the surgery, it is best to have the right guidance to help you save money.

Considering all the factors involved, a cost-effective surgery could be an ideal decision.

It is the best option for knee replacement because it saves your money to start living your life again.

Knee replacement surgery will let you function without pain. This is the reason, an average of 95 percent of people who have knee replacement surgery return to a normal life, even if they have slight discomfort for a month or so.