One of the most common complaints among individuals of all ages is knee discomfort. Although many other conditions can cause pain, such as torn cartilage and burst ligaments, the most common ones are aging and repetitive stress injuries. Many patients undergo complete knee replacement surgery each year due to the devastating nature of the pain. There are several things you should be aware of if you are suffering from knee discomfort and are thinking about having a knee replacement.
1. Consult with your orthopaedic specialist about nonsurgical options before deciding on knee replacement surgery. Establishing a relationship with an orthopaedic surgeon who specialises in nonsurgical and surgical treatments for the knee is a smart option if you start to suffer knee discomfort. Constantly start by looking into conservative options, such as:
- prescription or non-prescription anti-inflammatory drugs.
- injections of gel and cortisone.
- Knee surgery (a treatment that blocks pain by destroying the nerves).
- physical treatment
When non-surgical options are no longer successful in reducing your pain, it may be time to discuss knee replacement surgery with your doctor.
2. Controlling health issues expedites recovery and enhances outcomes. To ensure a smooth recovery after surgery, it’s crucial to manage health issues like diabetes and excess weight if you’re thinking about having a knee replacement. According to research, losing even a minor amount of weight—between 10 and 20 pounds—can reduce hospital stays and allow you to be released from the hospital directly to your house rather than a rehabilitation center. To strengthen the muscles around the knee joint before surgery, many surgeons also advise physical therapy. Patients who are in good physical condition are frequently eligible for same-day knee replacement, which allows them to avoid an overnight stay in the hospital.
3. Postponing surgery for too long might result in more harm. The ability to completely straighten the knee following surgery can be impacted by replacing the knee too soon or waiting too long, both of which can cause greater discomfort, muscle atrophy, deformity, and other negative effects. Prior schools of thinking advised patients to be 60 or older to prevent needing more procedures in the future. That way of thinking is, however, altering as implant and surgical technology advances. In collaboration with your surgeon, you should pick “the correct moment” for knee replacement surgery depending on your unique situation and quality of life.
4. There are many kinds of knee replacement surgeries. Which one is suggested for your particular situation? Ask your surgeon.
- The medial or lateral compartments of the knee joint are switched out during a partial knee replacement. When only one area of the knee is afflicted by an accident or arthritis, this surgery is done through a tiny incision.
- The diseased bone, cartilage, and connective tissue are removed during a complete knee replacement and replaced with an artificial joint.
- Robotic complete knee replacement employs an intraoperative robot to accurately repair and restore the alignment of the knee joint, posing minimal risk to soft tissues.
- Customized knee implants guarantee that each patient’s implants are a perfect fit and assist to prevent the loss of healthy bone and tissue while undergoing surgery.
5. Do your homework before choosing a service. Inquiring about someone who has had a knee replacement is one of the finest ways to locate a skilled surgeon. Plan to meet with many candidates to determine who will best suit your needs. Among the things to watch for are:
- An orthopedic surgeon with board certification (preferably someone who specializes in knee replacements and does them on regular basis.)
- a surgeon who makes use of modern techniques that have been proven to enhance long-term outcomes, such as personalized implants, navigation, and robotics.
- a surgeon who is accepted by your insurance company as a provider.
Visit DR. VIKAS MEHRA – the best Knee Replacement Surgeon in Chandigarh, to find out more about knee replacement and to meet their group of orthopedic physicians who are board-certified and can assist you in determining when to have knee replacement surgery. The areas of competence include keyhole arthroscopic surgery for sports injuries, keyhole spine surgery, hi-tech fracture surgery, and joint replacement surgery. His clinic has a state-of-the-art physiotherapy division that treats all forms of bone and joint ailments, backaches, and neurological diseases. More than 50,000 successful procedures are claimed to have been performed by Dr. Mehra throughout his career. Dr. Vikas Mehra has received advanced training and fellowships from renowned institutions in Switzerland, Singapore, Spain, and the United States. He belongs to World Orthopaedic Concern as well.