Joint replacement is a major surgery that typically has a lengthy recovery period. It’s viewed as the last result when other interventions fail to correct the issue.
Understanding when it’s time to get a knee or hip replacement is a big decision to discuss with your doctor. Here are some telling signs that it might be time to consider this option.
Other Treatments Are No Longer Effective
According to experts specializing in total joint replacement in Tennessee, if your non-surgical interventions are no longer working, it’s time to talk to your doctor about surgery. If physiotherapy is no longer cutting it and you continuously need more and more pain medication, a replacement might be necessary.
Discuss your challenges with your doctor and other treatment specialists to determine whether other non-surgical interventions are available. They may not be sufficient for your situation, but it’s worth turning over every stone regarding your health and wellness.
Pain Is Interrupting Your Activities
If your pain and discomfort impact your daily activities, surgery is worth considering. It’s normal to experience more inflammation and discomfort after a highly active day, but it’s not normal to have your regular movement limited by your condition.
It’s also important to talk to your doctor if your joint pain is impacting your ability to get physical exercise. Restorative, intentional movement is a must for healthy aging. The inability to exercise can create an exponential effect and cause issues in other ways.
You Have To Compensate for Mobility
If your pain and discomfort restrict your mobility and range of motion, talk to your doctor about a replacement surgery.
Mobility restrictions often result in compensations and imbalances that cause more issues. For example, if your left knee is in pain, you may subconsciously shift more weight onto your right foot. This can put extra pressure on the right knee while creating an imbalance in the hip and low back.
Interventions like steroid shots, physiotherapy, and massage therapy help with your mobility and ROM. However, if you’ve exhausted those efforts and the issue is progressing, talk to your doctor.
You Struggle With Arthritis
Osteoarthritis is one of the leading causes of joint pain and inflammation, leading to replacement surgery. Rheumatoid arthritis and post-traumatic arthritis (which develops after an injury) are also common.
If you struggle with any arthritis-related issues, replacement surgery may be in your future. Getting a diagnosis doesn’t necessarily mean you need surgery or that you should push for it immediately — there are downsides to replacements too. However, these conditions increase the likelihood that surgical interventions will eventually be needed.
Your Doctor Recommends It
Finally, if your doctor recommends a joint replacement, you should trust their judgment. This recommendation often occurs after all other options have been explored. If the idea of surgery scares you, consider getting a second opinion for reassurance.
It’s important to note that there are eligibility requirements for surgery. Researching the requirements and seeking alignment with your healthcare professional is essential.
Joint replacement surgeries are only suitable for some. However, it’s worth exploring if you are experiencing the issues on this list.
Speaks from heart, always too passionate and driven by emotions. Spins the words with kindness & sharpness, intriguing your ever-inscrutable minds.