How to Tell if You Need Surgery to Replace Your Hip or Knee Joint?

Is joint pain limiting your daily activities? Are you having trouble with pain that won’t go away in your hip or knee? Such worries affect a lot of people as they get older or deal with joint problems. Joint replacement surgeries, especially on the hip and knee, are now one of the most common ways to get pain relief and movement back. 

But how do you know when it’s time to think about having that kind of surgery? Let’s look at the signs, benefits, and right time for hip or knee replacement surgery, using new research and recommendations from experts to support us.

How Hip and Knee Joint Conditions Work

Body weight is supported by the hip and knee joints, which are also necessary for movement. If you get old, hurt, or have a disease like osteoarthritis, these joints can wear out over time. Joint pain is a daily problem for millions of people worldwide, and joint replacement is often the only way to get better.

Over 10% of people over 60 in the world have some form of osteoarthritis, which is the most common cause of disability in the world, according to the World Health Organization. About 1.3 million hip and knee replacements undergo surgery every year in the United States alone, and that number keeps going up.

Symptoms That Might Indicate You Need a Joint Replacement

When other treatments, like physical therapy, drugs, or injections, haven’t helped, joint replacement surgery is usually the last option. These are the primary indications that surgery might be the next step:

1. Severe, long-lasting joint pain

Joint pain can happen with age or after an accident, but pain that won’t go away even when you’re not moving can be a sign that you need joint replacement surgery. If painkillers or therapy don’t help and the pain gets in the way of your daily life, like when you try to walk, climb stairs, or sit for long amounts of time, it’s time to consider surgery.

2. Not enough movement

Having trouble moving or making the joint less flexible is another strong indication that it is hurt. A lot of the time, this stiffness can make it hard to do simple things like sit down or bend over.

When someone has severe arthritis, the cartilage in their joints wears away, rubbing the bones against each other. This friction makes things stiff and immobile, which has a huge impact on the quality of life. 

3. Chronic Inflammation and Swelling

Joint swelling and inflammation that happen often are signs of joint degeneration that are getting more serious. Joint damage is very bad if there is chronic inflammation that doesn’t go away with anti-inflammatory drugs. This inflammation can make the pain last longer and make it harder to move around.

4. Deformity of the Joints

In serious cases, joint deformity may happen. One example is that the shape of the joint can change as the cartilage goes away and more bone-on-bone contact happens. This is a common indication that arthritis becomes more severe. It is common for surgeons to suggest surgery to fix alignment problems and stop further problems from happening if joint deformities become clear.

5. Effects on life quality and mental health

Having joint pain that won’t go away can be bad for your mental health. People who are depressed and angry say they can’t do social things or stay independent, which makes them feel abandoned. Having chronic pain and reduced mobility can be just as bad for your mental health as the physical symptoms.

Johns Hopkins University found that 66% of people with chronic joint pain said they were “emotionally distressed” before they decided to have surgery to replace their joint. 82% of patients, on the other hand, said that their physical and mental health had seriously improved after surgery.

What are the advantages of surgery to replace a Hip or Knee Joint

Joint replacement surgery can change a person’s life and help them in many ways if they are in pain and can’t move. Some of the most important benefits are listed below.

• Pain relief is one of the main reasons people get hip or knee replacements. Injured patients feel a lot better right away after getting an artificial joint to replace the broken one.
• Patients who have a successful joint replacement can expect to regain a lot of the movement they lost. They can do routine tasks and activities more easily because of this.
• Reduced pain and mobility improve patients’ quality of life. Emotional and physical health are both better when people can get back to a more busy lifestyle and meet new people.
• The durability of prosthetic joints has been significantly improved by recent developments in the field of joint replacement. Most artificial joints are made to last between 15 and 20 years, which means that for many people, joint replacement is a long-term option.

When Should You Get Surgery to Replace Your Hip or Knee?

It’s not a good idea to decide on the spot to have surgery to replace a joint. It is important to talk to a healthcare worker who can use X-rays, physical tests, and other diagnostic tools to figure out what’s wrong with you. But if your joint pain is getting in the way of your daily life, you might want to consult your doctor about surgery.

When people usually think about joint replacement surgery:

• Non-surgical treatments have failed.
• When pain gets too much, it keeps you from sleeping.
• Your joints no longer work properly, which makes it hard for you to move around.
• The swelling and joint deformities grow with time.

Wrapping It Up

Deciding to have surgery to replace your hip or knee is a big decision, but it can help a lot with pain, get you moving again, and make your life better overall. Before you decide to have surgery, you should consult your doctor about all of your other treatment choices if you are still in pain, stiffness, or swelling in your joints.

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