If getting out of your bed in the morning or climbing a few stairs, or going on a walk brings you instant knee pain – it might be a matter of concern.
Chronic knee pain isn’t normal as it can be a sign that something wrong is happening with your knees. A total knee replacement surgery could be the saving grace for you in case of severe pain in the largest joint of your body.
This surgery is a good idea to better heal from the chronic knee pain. But how do you know when is the right time for you to go for the surgery?
Your orthopedic surgeon will decide when knee replacement surgery is needed. Surgery is usually the last resort for every patient especially in the case when other treatment options like medications, physical therapy, or injections have stopped working.
This surgical option can help you to get back to a pain-free life. It’s generally considered a safe surgical procedure with a high rate of success. According to expert orthopedic surgeons, more than 90% of modern knee replacements are still working well after 15 years of surgery.
Going for knee replacement surgery is a decision that has to be made by you and your orthopedic surgeon. Firstly, you have to watch out for certain warning signs that will help you decide if you should go for a knee replacement surgery or not.
Signs you should consider total knee replacement
Severe Pain
Occurrence of severe and persistent pain in your knees is a red flag that you might go for knee replacement surgery. Your pain is severe day and night and stays even when you are not using your knees, especially when you are sitting still or lying down.
There can be various causes of this type of pain, and if it’s accompanied by some specific signs like sudden and severe inflammation.
If you have chronic knee pain while performing any type of physical work and you are not getting relief from rest, weight loss, medication, physical therapy, then it may be the time for the knee replacement.
The pain can occur in so many ways, including:
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You may face pain in doing your daily tasks such as bathing, walking, dressing, or getting out of bed.
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Your pain is severe even when you are not moving your knee.
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You may face severe deformity due to an old injury
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You may also experience pain due to the limitations of movements
Swollen knees
A knee that is constantly getting inflamed despite the use of anti-inflammatory drugs, steroid injections, and physical therapy suggests degeneration of the knee’s cartilage and/or instability, which can be examined with the help of an X-ray. This can make you a candidate for total knee replacement surgery.
Ineffective treatments
When knee pain starts, most of us go for more conservative treatment options such as medications, injections, or physical therapy. You may also try certain home remedies like using an ice pack or taking a hot water bath. However, if the condition of your knees is severe, these treatment options may lose their effectiveness.
Anti-inflammatory injections or physical therapies are temporary measures to provide pain relief. However, they may not reverse the underlying cause of pain. Therefore, in such cases, surgery can be the better option to help you heal your knee problem.
Change in appearance
Some changes come into the appearance of the knee. These changes include inflammation in the knee area or a physical displacement of the knee itself. Age can also be an indicator of the possible need for a total knee replacement, as osteoarthritis is among the leading causes of knee deterioration.
If you discover any of these signs, you should talk with your orthopedic surgeon about the possibility of knee surgery. Firstly, your doctor will examine your condition and will ask for your medical history and symptoms. After that, he may conduct several tests, including blood tests, ECG, urine tests, to make sure you’re ready to go for surgery.
Based on the result of these tests, a surgeon may perform your surgery.
What can you expect?
Before the surgery
You’ll be given some medications before the surgery to reduce the chances of post-surgical infection. Your doctor might also give you a nerve block around your injured knee to numb it.
During the surgery
Your damaged knee will be in a bent position to expose all areas of the joint. After building an incision about 6 to 10 inches long, your orthopedic expert moves aside your kneecap and cuts away the damaged joint parts.
After the surgery
You’ll stay in a recovery room for one to two hours. How long you stay after the procedure depends on your individual needs. Many patients go home that same day. Medicines can also be prescribed to control pain.
After knee replacement surgery, some people can experience certain signs of infections. In that case, you can take the suggestion of your orthopedic surgeon.
At times you may face the following signs of infections after a knee replacement surgery:
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High fever which is greater than 100 F (37.8 C)
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Shaking chills
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Drainage from the surgical site
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Increasing inflammation, redness, tenderness, and pain in the knee
However, these infections are not so common and occur only in some rare cases.
Amandeep Hospital: Best Hospital for Knee Replacement in Amritsar
Amandeep Hospital is one of the best orthopedic hospitals. We have a team of the best joint pain doctors and orthopedic surgeons in India who treat patients of all ages suffering from severe knee problems.
Our highly experienced orthopedic surgeons treat orthopedic diseases like sports injuries and repair joint fractures and spinal deformities.
We are known to provide both surgical and non-surgical treatments to cure your knee disease or any other severe orthopedic condition.