Are You a Candidate for Knee Replacement?

 

Knee replacement removes a damaged knee joint and replaces it with an artificial joint. Your knee is the largest joint in your body. It’s involved in most of your movements throughout the day. The goal of knee replacement, also known as knee arthroplasty, is to restore pain-free range of motion and function.

When it comes to dealing with any type of injury, the knee is often one of the biggest problem areas of the body. The first thing to understand about knee health is that the knee is a stable joint that functions and exists directly between two very mobile joints, the hip and the ankle. If the hip or ankle becomes injured, mobility of the knee is limited.

The most common diagnosis of the cause of knee pain prior to knee replacement is osteoarthritis. If you are prevented from carrying out your everyday activities due to pain or discomfort in the knee, then you may have arthritis of some kind. If so, difficulty in bending, squatting, kneeling, and walking may be indications that knee replacement is worth talking to a surgeon about. Most knee replacement patients are between the ages of 60 and 80 years old, but in some cases younger patients with knee problems such as traumatic knee injuries may also require a total knee replacement.

When to Consider Knee Replacement

You may want to consider knee replacement if the knee damage is severe, and pain, deformity or disability diminishes your quality of life. You are a good candidate for knee replacement if:

• Knee pain or stiffness limits your daily activities
• Knee pain is present even at rest
• The knee joint is deformed
• X-rays show severe joint degeneration
• Other treatments like physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications, joint injections, or less invasive surgeries haven’t worked

If you think you may be a candidate for knee replacement surgery, call Dr. Bill Hefley at (800) 336-2412 to request an appointment, or request an appointment online.