Not only can pain in your hip or knee joints keep you from enjoying your favorite sports, it can interfere with simple everyday activities such as walking, bending, climbing stairs and even sleeping. For some people, medications, physical therapy and other treatments help relieve pain, but often that relief is only temporary. When that happens, it may be time to consider joint replacement.
If you’re living with debilitating hip or knee pain caused by arthritis, joint replacement surgery can eliminate your pain and improve your mobility. Joint replacement surgery has come a long way in recent years, and hip and knee replacement is easier, safer and more effective than ever before.
Here are five of the most common questions our patients have about total joint replacement surgery:
What happens during joint replacement surgery?
Using state-of-the-art medical equipment, the surgeon replaces your damaged joint with an artificial joint (called an implant) with outstanding precision and accuracy to mirror your natural anatomy and movement. The surgery itself can take one to three hours.
Why is joint replacement surgery so much better than it used to be?
Both the technology used in joint replacement and the surgical techniques have greatly improved. The implants used in hip and knee replacement today are stronger and last longer, so they can keep you moving comfortably for up to 20 years. In many cases, minimally invasive surgical techniques mean smaller incisions, less discomfort, a shorter hospital stay and a faster recovery.
How long will I be in the hospital?
You can expect to be in the hospital for one to two nights. You’ll start moving and walking as soon as the day of surgery. You will begin physical therapy in the hospital, and your physical rehabilitation specialist will develop a personalized therapy plan for you to follow after you are discharged to help you gain the strength and mobility to do the activities you enjoy. You may spend a few days in a physical rehabilitation center after you leave the hospital, or you may have physical therapy in an outpatient center or at home.
What can I expect after joint replacement surgery?
Hip and knee replacement surgery results are usually excellent. Most or all of your pain and stiffness should go away, and your ability to move freely should improve greatly. Most patients are able to resume all of their usual activities – and do them without pain. If you participate in sports, the type of activity makes a difference. You will likely be able to do low-impact activities such as swimming, cycling and golfing sooner than tennis or snow skiing. Full recovery will take several months to a year.
What qualifications should I look for in an orthopedic surgeon?
Where your joints are concerned, experience matters. Hospitals with a high volume of joint replacement patients have been shown to have better results. The same can be said for high-volume orthopedic surgeons specializing in joint replacement.
If you’re ready to live without hip or knee joint pain, find out if joint replacement surgery is right for you. For more information visit scripps.org/CBJ or call 858-348-4210.
Dr. Hajnik is an orthopedic surgeon specializing in hip and knee replacement at Scripps Health.