5 Questions To Ask Your Doctor Before A Knee Replacement Surgery

Are you considering knee replacement surgery? Knee Replacement Surgery or operation has become prevalent these days. It can be a significant step towards a more active lifestyle. If you have severe knee arthritis and none of the non-surgical treatments have been successful, it is time for you to consider a knee replacement operation. This surgery is also known as knee arthroplasty and helps in relieving pain and restoring functions in knee joints that have been seriously affected.

Further, a knee replacement surgery requires cutting damaged/impaired bone and cartilage from the shinbone, thighbone, and kneecap. This damaged part is replaced with a prosthesis or artificial joint made out of high-grade plastics, polymers, and metal alloys.

You must have a few questions to ask your doctor before a knee replacement surgery. We got you covered with the answers. If you want to get knee replacement surgery done, it is better to consult experts at MaxHealthcare.

Q1. When to consider knee replacement surgery?

Your healthcare provider can only suggest/recommend you to get the surgery done. However, the final say is in your hands. Knee pain can be highly detrimental to your active lifestyle. Hence, you must try all other treatments, including non-surgical remedies.

Non-surgical treatments involve physiotherapy, exercise, weight loss, over-the-counter medications, and knee injections. The ones with knee osteoarthritis pain must keep non-surgical options before considering surgery. If the above-mentioned treatments or remedies don’t work even after 3-6 months, it’s best to consider knee replacement surgery.

Q2. What type of knee surgery is right for me?

The type of knee replacement surgery depends on what your surgeon recommends, and that further depends on various factors. The extent of arthritic damage, age, general physical conditions, and the surgeon’s expertise are a few factors. Surgical options may include the following:

• Total knee replacement
• Knee osteotomy
• Knee arthroscopy
• Cartilage restoration and repair
• Partial knee replacement

Out of all the available options, total knee replacement is one of the most common and highly recommended choices with the highest success rate. However, your healthcare provider knows the best option for you and will know what to recommend.

Q3. What are the possible complications?

Complications are rare/ low in knee replacement but can occur. Possible complications include infection, blood clots, or damage to the surrounding tissue or the knee. You must consult your healthcare providers to determine all the possible complications. The more experienced your surgeon is with the specific procedure, the lesser the chances of any complications.

Additionally, you must remember that before you choose a healthcare facility, you must look at the number of surgeries they have performed to get a better understanding.

Q4. Will I be able to walk normally again?

You can start walking post-surgery! Yes, you read that right. However, walking after your surgery will require you to follow a few guidelines from your healthcare provider. Most surgeons recommend you get on your operated foot and put weight on it as soon as possible. This will allow the newly replaced knee to heal, as movements bring nutrients and blood to the healed area. How much and how long you can walk depends on your swelling, pain, and lingering effects from the pain and the medications.

Q5. How long does full recovery take?

The recovery timeline varies depending on the condition of your damaged knees. Nevertheless, a person with arthroscopic knee surgery may take 6 to 8 weeks to heal fully.

Someone who has gone through total knee replacement can expect to return to their daily routine/ schedule in 6-8 weeks; however, full recovery will take slightly longer.

Moreover, post your surgery, you’ll be required to have support such as a cane, crutch, or walker till about the third day, depending on how much body weight you can hold. You need not worry, as your healthcare provider will ensure you learn to use your walking aid before leaving the facility. A physiotherapist’s importance afterKnee Replacement Surgery must be kept in mind.

Conclusion

A knee replacement surgery is mostly about what you do before and after the surgery; the success rate or outcome depends on this. It is crucial that you exercise before the operation to make a smooth and swift recovery. Also another important aspect is how you feel psychologically. Mental stress or depression before any surgery can lower the chances of success.

A knee replacement will indeed be the best decision you’ve ever made, but you need to keep a few things in mind to be able to walk independently. An active lifestyle will enable you to get back on your feet and return to normal walking in no time. Also, it is imperative to consult your healthcare provider at every step of the process to ensure maximum success.

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