Everyone must have experienced knee pain at some point in their lives. However, knee pain that worsens over time and limits your daily activities is not appealing. For some people, knee replacement is the only option. Most of us are nervous about the knee replacement procedure because of our lack of knowledge about it. So let’s learn more about knee replacement surgery, what to expect, and how it can benefit us.
Do You Actually Need A Knee Replacement?
Chronic knee pain or other discomforts in the knee doesn’t mean that knee replacement is the only option for you. In fact, a good orthopedic surgeon will only suggest knee replacement when all other treatment modalities fail. So it’s always better to consult an expert in this field or get a second opinion before making the final decision.
Get Ready for Your Knee Replacement
Knee Replacement has changed a lot during these years. While each hospital might not have the same approach, certain practices can help increase the success rate of the surgery.
The Process
Pre-habilitation: Pre-habilitation programs before the surgery, can tune up muscles and get the body prepared for the procedure.
Timeline: Patients can typically go home within 2 to 3 days after the surgery and the rehabilitation programs will start in the hospital or the days immediately after.
Procedure
There are mainly four steps in the knee replacement procedure
Preparing the bone: The damaged bone surfaces of the femur and tibia are removed.
Metal implants are placed: The removed bone and cartilage are replaced with metal prosthetics to recreate the surface of the joint.
The kneecap is resurfaced: The knee cap (patella) is resurfaced if needed.
A spacer is inserted: A medical-grade plastic spacer is inserted between the knee prosthetics to create a smooth gliding surface.
What to Expect After Knee Replacement?
Most people feel relatively better after the procedure. Multimodal pain management techniques help to manage post-surgical pain, and most of the patients will start to walk within 24 hours after surgery (with a walking aid).
Physical therapy is advised 2 to 3 times per week for 4 to 6 weeks.
Patients who had partial knee replacements require a walker or cane for only a day or two after the surgery, while those who had full knee replacements may need it for a week or two.
Within 6 weeks, most patients can return to their normal activities.
Patients must avoid high-impact activities and exercises even after complete recovery.
Though there is some discomfort associated with a knee replacement, the lasting pain relief it offers and the ability to restore your mobility are well worth it. If you are suffering from persistent knee pain and thinking about whether knee replacement is right for you, Contact us.