When One Needs To Replace Their Knees?

What is knee joint replacement?

Knee or hip pain is a buzz word among people these days. And as an answer to this pain, hip replacement and knee replacement surgery got popular. The process of replacing an injured or ailing knee with a prosthesis or an artificial joint is called knee joint replacement. Generally, the prosthesis or artificial joint is made of plastics, metal alloys, and polymers and mocks the function of a knee.

Firstly, the doctor has to decide that knee replacement surgery is appropriate or not appropriate for the person. If a person is having an infection, do not have enough bone, or the bone of a person is not strong enough to support a prosthetic knee.

Generally, doctors try to postpone the total knee replacement for as long as possible and recommend less invasive treatments. If a person has an advanced joint disease than the only doctor might advise for a knee replacement that might offer the chance for relief from pain and a return to normal activities.

According to the orthopedic surgeon in India, artificial knees can fit the specifications and needs of the patient. Selection of prosthetic knee is based on various factors as under

• Age

• Weight

• Activity level

• Overall health

The entire process of replacing the injured or damaged knee with prosthesis knee takes around two hours. But the recovery and rehabilitation from surgery can last months. Knee replacement is also popular as knee arthroplasty. These days joint replacements are a very common surgery. So, what is the objective of a knee joint replacement surgery?

One of the most common reasons for knee joint replacement is damage from arthritis. This includes both rheumatoid arthritides as well as osteoarthritis.

When less invasive treatments fail to cure damaged knees, doctors recommend knee replacement. Some of the first-line treatment options include:

• weight loss

• medications

• physical therapy

• assistive devices such as a cane

• lifestyle changes

• injections

• strengthening exercises

• alternative therapies like acupuncture

What are the real signs that it might be time for a knee replacement?

• When the pain persists or recurs over time

• When the knee of person aches during and after exercise

• When a person is no longer as mobile as they would like to be

• When the medication and using a cane are not helping enough and delivering relief

• When knees of a person stiffen up from sitting in a movie theatre or a car

• When a person feels pain in rainy weather

• When pain prevents a person from sleeping

• When a person feels a decrease in the degree to which one is able to bend the knee or in knee motion

• When the knees of a person are stiff or swollen

• When a person has difficulty in walking or climbing stairs

• When a person feels difficulty getting in and out of bathtubs and chairs

• When a person experience morning stiffness that typically lasts less than 30 minutes (for stiffness lasting longer than 45 minutes is a sign of an inflammatory condition also known as rheumatoid arthritis)

• When a person feels a “grating” of the joint

• When a person had a previous injury to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) of the knee

What are the key factors in determining whether a person is a good candidate for knee joint replacement includes?

• how much knee pain interferes with routine activities of a person, such as climbing stairs or walking

• if the knee is deformed, or “blows out” often

• age of the person

• overall health of a person

Generally, people over the age of 55 usually go for a total knee replacement surgery in India, for the younger people who go under the knee replacement may outlive their prosthetic knees and might need a revision. Every candidate is evaluated on an individual basis for knee replacement surgery.

Knee replacement surgery is, after all, a huge deal. It can be disruptive to the routine and is costly too. In addition, the risk is always there.