Are You Making the Right Decisions About Knee Replacement Surgery?

Are you living with sudden chronic knee pain that’s worsening? Is it limiting activities, affecting sleep, and keeping you from enjoying life? You’re not alone. Studies indicate approximately 25% of Americans experience knee pain. With more than 750,000 performed annually in the U.S., knee replacement surgery can relieve pain and discomfort, but statistics show 90% of patients are putting it off. Unfortunately, the dangers of delaying surgery can lead to more serious medical complications. So, when is the best time to get a knee replacement? In this article, we’ll discuss the risks of putting off surgery and explain how to make the right decision for your health.

5 Reasons Not to Delay Surgery for Chronic Knee Pain Relief

If you’re suffering from a painful knee, you may be wondering how bad a knee has to be before replacement.

Believe it or not, surgery is usually not the first treatment option. You and your doctor will take into consideration:

• Your age

• Any knee pain treatment history

• Pain level and knee functionality

• What’s causing the pain:
  • Degenerative conditions such as osteoarthritis
  • Overuse or mechanical causes
  • Injury
  • Inflammatory conditions such as gout
  • Obesity

Before pursuing knee replacement surgery, your doctor may recommend:

• Physical therapy to strengthen the muscles supporting the knee.

• Ice and heat applications, as well as electrical nerve stimulation, which are used to increase blood flow to the knee.

• Corticosteroid injection to reduce inflammation, pain and swelling.

When Is It Time for a Knee Replacement?

Generally speaking, signs you need a knee replacement are when:

• Over-the-counter pain medicines have lost their effectiveness.

• Pain keeps you from sleeping.

• Mobility and quality of life are affected, such as having trouble going up and down stairs or getting in and out of cars.

• Knee stiffness when getting up in the morning.

• You have a diagnosis of advanced end-stage joint disease.

Still, despite the pain, many patients will delay surgery because of their fear of the procedure or worry about their recovery. These are the top five risks you can face if you wait too long for knee replacement surgery.

1. Surgical options may become more limited.

By putting off surgery, more damage occurs. This increases the odds that you will need a full knee joint replacement—you may have been able to get away with a partial knee replacement if the surgery was done sooner. Surgery is now more complex and recovery will take longer.

2. Increased changes to your overall health, activity, and life.

The danger of delaying knee replacement surgery isn’t just that you’re living in pain; you’re continuing to limit your ability to participate in physical activities or exercise. You may also be sacrificing a good night’s sleep due to pain and discomfort. However, something that is just as important to consider is the impact knee pain has on the things you love to do, such as playing with your children or grandchildren, or walking the dog.

As pain increases and knee function is affected, you may notice or develop other changes or concerns, such as:

• Weakened muscles due to decreased mobility.

• Cardiovascular disease and/or pulmonary conditions due to a more sedentary lifestyle.

• Stress and strain on the back and hips.

• Weight gain.

3. Changes to your mental health.

The stress of living with pain and discomfort, having a lack of mobility, and being unable to do the activities you enjoy with friends and family will take a toll on your mental health. This can cause feelings of isolation, frustration, anxiety, and emotional exhaustion. Additionally, stress can hurt the body, increasing the risk of illness, digestive problems, and emotional disturbances.

4. Slower recovery.

Delaying surgery can lead to slower recovery from knee replacement when you do have surgery, and raises the risks of additional complications and postoperative infection. This is because the disease has progressed to a more advanced stage and joint damage can be more extensive, resulting in increased pain and inflammation. It may even cause harm to other joints when your body compensates for the existing damage.

By waiting, you may need a total knee replacement instead of a partial replacement. This is a more comprehensive and complex surgery resulting in a more extended recovery period. Additional bone and soft tissue may need to be removed from around your knee joint, and more complex reconstruction techniques may be necessary.

5. Delaying surgery reduces the chances of regaining full mobility.

When you consider the additional damage done to your knee joint while you wait, combined with the changes to your general and mental health you’ll also need to manage, you can see why delaying knee replacement surgery can have serious consequences that may make it harder to regain full function afterward. Additionally, waiting is keeping you from enjoying and living your life to the fullest.

Is Knee Replacement Surgery Worth It?

As knee replacement surgery is an effective procedure that has been safely and successfully performed on millions of people, you can trust that you’ll be in better shape after the operation than you were before. Most patients say they wish they had done it sooner! They’ve found that life after knee replacement surgery brings them renewed mobility, reduced pain, and a return to the activities they once enjoyed.

Talk to a North Carolina Specialty Hospital Knee Replacement Expert

If you’re in the Durham, Raleigh, or the wider Triangle area of North Carolina and have questions about knee pain and whether you need surgery, talk to our orthopedic experts at North Carolina Specialty Hospital.

We can help you make the right decision about knee replacement surgery for your situation. We have a long history as the Triangle region’s premier healthcare partner, dating back to our founding in 1926. Flash forward to today, where we rank in the top 10% nationally and in North Carolina for Medical Excellence in Major Orthopedic Surgery, Joint Replacement, Spinal Fusion, and Spinal Surgery, as well as patient safety in Major Orthopedic Surgery.

Our surgeons are highly experienced in knee replacement procedures, including advanced MAKO Robotic Surgery, which enables more precise implant placement, potentially leading to a faster recovery and improved long-term function. Learn more about our cutting-edge joint replacement program.

We’re with you every part of the way: before surgery, during the procedure, and for your entire recovery time. So if you’re suffering from knee pain, please don’t hesitate to let us help you get back to living pain-free and enjoying life. Schedule a consultation with one of our experienced knee replacement specialists at North Carolina Specialty Hospital today.