What Should I Expect With Knee Replacement?
Having your knee replaced involves having arthritic and damaged parts removed and replaced with artificial prosthetic joints.
Your new, efficient, artificial prosthetic joint will perform just like a young, healthy, undamaged, natural joint. You will be able to enjoy physical activities without fear of pain.
Must my knees be in severely bad shape before I can have them replaced?
This is something you will determine with your doctor. After an evaluation by an orthopedist, a consultation and some thought about how a knee replacement will impact your life, you will be ready to make the decision for yourself.
If you are having knee pain every day, you may respond by resting your knees. When you do this, the muscles around the knee become weaker. That means that you will have more knee pain.
If you have tried other options like physical therapy and medication, without relief, it may be time for you to consider joint replacement.
Click here to learn more about surgery for ACL tear.
Minimally Invasive Knee Joint Replacement (MIS)
MIS is a very specialized technique in which a very small incision is made to access the knee structure. When this technique is used, the trauma to the soft tissues is very minor.
This is a tremendous improvement over traditional knee replacement surgery in many ways. MIS can mean a very short hospital stay, a speedy recovery, and very little, if any scarring. However, MIS is not the answer for everyone.
A thorough consultation with your orthopedist will let you know whether or not MIS is the answer for you.
Are there risks associated with MIS?
MIS is far less invasive than traditional surgery, but it is, nonetheless, a major operation.
Whenever major surgery is performed, complications may arise. Happily, these are usually easy to avoid or mitigate.
So, how soon can I go back to my regular schedule? I need to be able to drive and work!
This is an individual decision that you will make with your orthopedist. Follow your physician’s orders and your surgeons advice. The exact time varies from person to person.
Click here to learn more about arthroscopy of the knee.
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