Knee replacement surgery may be necessary if you have chronic, persistent knee pain that has restricted your normal movements or has caused knee deformity.
When Is Knee Replacement Surgery Necessary?
Knee replacement surgery offers hope to people who struggle with simple, daily tasks, such as walking around the house, climbing stairs, and sleeping comfortably without pain.
Anti-inflammatory and pain medication, along with physiotherapy, may work, but some severe cases require a more invasive and long-lasting solution to chronic knee pain. That’s when a total knee replacement surgery at the best orthopedic hospital in Kolhapur, such as WIINS, comes into the picture.
Knee Replacement: Is That What You Need?
Knee replacement offers significant relief from knee pain, restores your normal movements, and makes your daily life easier. The question is: how do you know if it’s the most appropriate treatment option for you? Before we discuss the signs that you may need the surgery, let’s first understand what knee replacement is.
When the cartilage in your knee wears away with age, or after an injury or a chronic illness, your bones rub against each other as you move the joint, causing pain and stiffness. Mild cartilage damage can be managed with medication, therapies, activity modification, and sometimes injection. Severe damage, however, requires a knee replacement.
The surgery is quite common worldwide. Around 70,000 knee replacement procedures are performed in the US alone annually. Modern imaging technology and robot-assisted planning shorten recovery and improve overall surgical outcomes.
Signs You Need Knee Replacement Surgery
At WIINS hospital in Kolhapur, a knee replacement surgeon recommends a total knee replacement when:
You Have Persistent Knee Pain
Mild knee pain that occurs occasionally, such as after squatting, kneeling, or standing for prolonged periods, may not be concerning. However, persistent or worsening knee pain that doesn’t seem to ease after rest, medication, or physical therapy may respond better to surgical treatment.
Limited Movements
Chronic knee pain can indicate severe, irreversible joint damage, which can also affect your movements. Surgery becomes a smart choice when the pain has restricted most of your daily activities.
Many people avoid social gatherings because walking or standing for a few minutes seems uncomfortable. If activities you like have become painful, a surgeon may consider a knee replacement surgery.
Non-Surgical Treatments Have Failed
When you present to a hospital with knee pain, the doctor will likely discuss conservative treatments first. Medication, braces, walking aids, physical therapies, dietary or lifestyle changes, and corticosteroid injections are tried for selected patients before a knee replacement is considered. When these fail, surgery may be a reasonable treatment choice.
Knee Deformity
Advanced arthritis can sometimes make your knee deformed. Some people develop knock knees or bowed knees, which affect their gait. Besides, knee deformity can put excessive stress on your other joints. It can also cause knee stiffness, which makes bending or straightening the knee difficult. In some cases, even the surgery doesn’t restore the complete range of motion, especially if the knee is severely stiff before surgery.
Knee replacement surgery can be a life-changing treatment, offering significant relief from knee pain, making daily activities easier, and improving your quality of life.
