Some Frequently Asked Questions About Knee Replacement
What’s involved in knee replacement?
When your knee is replaced, worn-out, damaged, and diseased natural parts will be removed and new, efficient, artificial prosthetic joints will be put in their place.
A prosthetic joint works just like a real, natural, healthy joint. It allows you to go back to enjoying all the physical activities you used to enjoy without knee pain.
Does my knee joint have to be in really bad shape before I begin thinking about having it replaced?
Consult with your doctor for an answer to this question. He or she may refer you to an orthopedist for an evaluation and consultation. Once you have talked it over with your doctor and orthopedist, do some thinking about how knee replacement will affect your life. Then you can decide whether or not it is right for you.
Daily knee pain may cause you to stay off your feet and rest your knees. Unfortunately, this has a negative impact on your health, not the least of which is a weakening of the muscles around the knees. This weakening increases knee pain.
If you have tried all the other options, like bracing, physical therapy, and medication, but they have not helped, it may be time for you to consider knee replacement.
Click here to learn more about torn ACL surgery.
Innovative MIS (Minimally Invasive Knee Joint Replacement)
When you have MIS, specialized techniques will be used. These techniques let the doctor do major surgery without making any large incisions. That is why this procedure is called minimally invasive. There is less trauma to the soft tissues because a much smaller incision is made.
MIS knee surgery is a big improvement in total knee replacement for many reasons. For one thing, with MIS, you will have a much shorter hospital stay. Additionally, you will recover more quickly and experience less scarring. Nonetheless, it is important to note that not everyone can use MIS.
A thorough consultation with your orthopedist will let you know whether or not MIS is the answer for you.
What risks are involved in MIS?
Of course, MIS is a major operation, and there are always risks involved with any surgery.
Happily, the complications that may arise with MIS are fairly easy to avoid and/or deal with.
What about driving, working, and performing other activities of daily living? How long must a patient wait?
This is another decision that you will make for yourself on consideration of the advice of your orthopedist and instructions from your doctor and surgeon. The amount of time you will need to rest may be quite different from the amount that is correct for another person.
Click here to learn more about arthroscopic knee surgery.