“You need knee replacement surgery.”
Even when we know that knee replacement surgery is going to be the diagnosis, we are still shocked, angry and in denial when officially hear it and the reality of it all starts to sink in. However, we really should be heartened by this news because knee replacement surgery, also known as total knee arthroplasty, marks the end of an agony-filled period of our lives and the beginning of taking the steps that will give us back our mobility, lifestyle and a pain-free future. The steps in between, though, are filled with uncertainty and dread.
You can take some comfort in knowing that knee replacement surgeries are the most common type of joint replacement surgery performed in the US - so this is nothing that is untried or experimental. With more than 200,000 surgeries performed every year finding a well experienced surgeon is not difficult. Knee replacement surgery is most often performed due to severe and disabling knee joint pain caused by arthritis in knee joints (osteoarthritis), rheumatoid arthritis and physical injury to the knee joint and kneecap. As you consider the pros and cons about proceeding with the surgery, you do have to weigh the pros and cons. Although 90 percent of patients who undergo the procedure experience a dramatic reduction of knee pain in the long term, there is a significant amount of downtime in your personal and work life. So, your planning and scheduling for this surgical procedure is very important. The good news on front is that due to the remarkable advances that have been made in knee replacement surgery, in some cases it is performed at an outpatient surgery center – as opposed to a hospital – and you and in many cases you are walking with the aid of a cane, walker, or crutches on the same day as the surgery. These are generally partial replacement procedures. If a full-replacement knee surgery is required, you will like require a hospital stay of 2 to 5 days.
After Knee Replacement Surgery
Many people are able to go home to convalesce after their knee replacement surgery. In this case, rent an electric hospital bed and put it on the main floor of the house for convenience. You will also need to rent a motion device that automatically move your knee joint for hours at a time in order to keep it flexible and from stiffening up. This is very important to keep in mind. The degree of knee straightening, strength, and flexibility will regain after knee replacement surgery is directly related to your diligence to follow the post-operative instruction relating to rehabilitating your knee joint. If you do not follow the instructions of your surgeon and the physical therapists, you could end up with a knee that still hurts and that you cannot fully straighten.
This bears repeating. Follow exactly the knee replacement surgery post-procedure rehabilitation prescription. It will be painful,and you will want to cuss-out your therapists at times. But have faith in the fact that they know what they are doing and want nothing less than your complete recovery.
Knee Replacement Surgery Has a 90%+ Success Rate
Although more than ninety percent of knee implants are functioning well 10 to 15 years after surgery with mild to moderate activity levels, strenuous activity can require another replacement surgery. Therefore, regardless how strong and normal your knee joint feels after knee replacement surgery, it will always be your responsibility to maintain strength and flexibility through sensible activities and exercises.
