The Knee Replacement Surgery You've Been Avoiding: When to Have the Procedure Done
When you’re in pain every day, it can be hard to picture your life ever feeling normal again.
Total knee replacement surgery can relieve the pain and allow you to regain your mobility, so if you’ve been thinking about getting knee replacement surgery, it’s probably time you set up an appointment with your doctor.
Your doctor will be able to tell you when the best time is to have the procedure done based on your current medical status, but these situations are times when having knee replacement surgery as soon as possible would be ideal.
When to consider knee replacement surgery
Several reasons can prompt you to have a knee replacement, for example, if your cartilage has been worn away by osteoarthritis, you’ll have very little cushion between your bones when you bend and straighten your knee.
The joint might also lose some of its stability, making it hard for you to move without pain. If so, total knee replacement surgery could be a good option for you. But many factors come into play when deciding whether or not to go through with it.
Several doubts might run through your mind before deciding on knee replacement. Let’s look at each doubt and find out the truth.
Is it a safe procedure?
People often avoid knee replacement surgery until it is necessary. While it’s understandable that patients don’t want their knee joints to deteriorate any further, studies show that waiting for joint replacement surgery can be a risky move in some cases.
Death following knee replacement surgery worldwide is 0.04% while still in the hospital, 0.15% within 90 days, and 0.54% within 1 year. To put it into a perspective, the odds of getting into a car accident during a 1000-mile trip is 0.27%.
Before committing to total knee replacement surgery as your solution for arthritis pain, talk with your doctor about your health and longevity risk factors for developing other conditions related to age and obesity.
I am old to have a surgery
The older you are, generally speaking, the more wear and tear your knees have. With age comes damage that can’t be reversed by any form of exercise or therapy—and it also brings with it a greater risk of complications.
For example, it’s not uncommon for people in their 80s and 90s to run into problems when trying to recover from knee replacement surgery.
If you’re 60 years old and suffering from osteoarthritis knee that needs replacement surgery, trying to avoid the surgery for 5 to 10 years is not a good idea. You can not expect to be younger and healthier in your 70s.
I will lose strength in my knees with surgery
Total knee replacement surgery will require your surgeon to open your knee joint by cutting through muscle and stitch it back at the end of the procedure. This process is done through an incision that's made behind your kneecap, so you'll be able to keep most of your muscle strength.
The worst thing you can do is avoid having a total knee replacement because you're worried about losing strength in your knees after surgery.
Ask yourself: What will happen if I don't have my knees replaced? Your ability to perform daily activities could become even more limited as time goes on, meaning chronic pain and fatigue are likely in store for you.
It will take a long time to recover
Typically, patients can return home after knee replacement surgery within three days of their operation. Recovery time depends on several factors, including general health and mobility before surgery. Patients who walk with a cane or crutches will generally recover more quickly than those who cannot ambulate at all or need help getting around.
Most people can drive after six weeks and resume normal activities by three months after knee replacement surgery, assuming there are no complications along the way.
While you may be ready for full recovery from your knee replacement surgery sooner than expected, it's important to take your time getting back on your feet so that you don't risk re-injuring yourself during recovery and potentially losing some of your newly gained mobility for good.
The result of knee replacement surgery is not good
The majority (more than 90%) of the patients experience complete relief of pain after knee replacement surgery. More than 96% admit improved walking distance and reduced stiffness.
Many studies have shown that 85% of knee replacements are functioning well beyond 25 years after surgery. (How long does a knee replacement last? A systematic review and meta-analysis of case series and national registry reports with more than 15 years of follow-up (thelancet.com))
Overall patient satisfaction after total knee replacement surgery ranges from 75% to 92%. (Patient Satisfaction after Total Knee Arthroplasty - PMC (nih.gov))
How do I choose a surgeon who can successfully perform knee replacement surgery?
Ask your orthopedic surgeon which surgery they’re most comfortable with performing and how many they’ve performed.
A surgeon who is skilled and experienced in knee replacement procedures can offer you a higher rate of success than someone who performs several types of surgeries. (Association Between Hospital and Surgeon Procedure Volume an...: JBJS (lww.com))
Make sure that you are clear about what specific type of procedure your surgeon will perform, such as uni-knee or total knee, CR or PS implants, whether using navigation or robotics, etc.
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