Investing In A Knee Replacement
Many people perform daily activities that require a lot of knee movements without thinking about the condition of the knee. When knee pain arises, routine activities become more of a challenge. Conservative treatments like rest and ice are often tried first to reduce the pain. However, if these do not work, a healthcare provider may recommend surgery such as a knee replacement. Total joint replacement of the knee can significantly improve quality of life. Here are 3 reasons to consider this surgery.
1. No more pain
The main reason to get a total joint replacement surgery is to reduce knee pain significantly. Most patients do not feel any pain after recovering from a knee replacement. A pain-free knee means people can return to exercise and other activities without worrying about the prospect of pain.
2. Resuming daily activities
With extremely severe knee pain, one is often unable to perform daily activities. Even simple activities like walking a block, climbing the stairs, and getting up from a seated position become difficult. Total joint replacement allows a person to resume daily activities without using assisted devices such as a cane or walker. Quality of life can be significantly improved with this surgery.
3. An enduring new knee
In most cases, total joint replacement is considered successful but cannot always be guaranteed. After a knee replacement is performed, the new knee can last up to 15-25 years. After a certain amount of time, some patients may require a revision of knee surgery. For many, the investment is worthwhile.
Caring for the new knee
After total joint replacement, instructions on how to take care of the new knee will be provided. One common recommendation is to keep doing low-impact exercises to strengthen the knee and maintain knee movement. Follow-up visits with the orthopedic doctor are required to monitor the condition of the knee. After surgery, improving the range of movements of the knee is very important. Physical therapy is often recommended and can help strengthen the new knee safely. When doing any activity, try to avoid injuries and falls as much as possible.
Life after knee replacement
The thought of surgery can be overwhelming for many people. However, if conservative treatments have failed and knee pain becomes too much to handle, a total joint replacement can help. After surgery, patients expect no pain, a return to normal activities, and a new knee that lasts years.
