There are 600,000 Americans who undergo knee replacement surgery every year to address pain and improve mobility. Knee replacement surgery is now becoming popular because the number of procedures has more than doubled since 2000, according to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons.
Knee replacement surgery (arthroplasty) is a common procedure where a damaged or worn-out knee joint is replaced with an artificial joint. The joint may be damaged due to certain health conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, hemophilia, gout, disorders that cause unusual bone growth, death of bone in the knee joint following blood supply problems, injury, and deformity with pain and loss of cartilage.
Finding The Right Time
Though patients who underwent total knee replacement surgery reported feeling as though they had taken on a new lease of life. Many doctors do not recommend total knee replacement as the first course of treatment. Surgery should only be recommended once all conservative treatment options have been exhausted or if your condition is severe.
Your doctor will work with you to discuss which treatment options are best for you and adjust your treatment plan as needed. In some cases, it may be best for you not to undergo surgery.
If you are a smoker or if you are obese, your doctor may recommend you lose weight or stop smoking before having surgery as these conditions can complicate your procedure or recovery.
Knee replacement surgery requires a lengthy recovery process to ensure proper healing. Though you may begin physical therapy right away and be able to walk after 3 months or so, it can take your knee a minimum of 6 months to recover, with many patients taking over a year to fully heal. As such, you may wish to wait to schedule your surgery so that the recovery period fits best into your lifestyle.
If surgery is not right for you at this time, Dr. Dewan and his expert team will work with you to help you manage the pain until then with more conservative treatment options. These treatments may include physical therapy, massage therapy, acupuncture, steroid injections, and medication.
Dr. Dewan is an orthopedic surgeon serving patients in and around Sugar Land, Texas, and believes in recommending conservative treatments whenever possible, with surgery as a last resort. If you are suffering from knee pain or would like to learn more about treatment options, contact ASHVIN K. DEWAN, MD today.