Arthritis Knee SurgeryImagine sitting on the sideline while your children play in the park and feeling old before your time. What if you had to sell your home because you could no longer climb the stairs to get to your bedroom and became fed up with sleeping on the sofa? People with severe Arthritis in their knees know those feelings. They are tired of the pain, tired of the limitations and just plain tired. Knee surgery begins to look more appealing each and every day. Painful knee joints are classic examples of the "wear and tear" theory of how a person ages from mileage rather than actual birthdays. Chronic arthritis in the knee joints causes more older adults to sit on the sidelines of life than almost any other condition. Age isn't the only factor, even young athletes can have knee problems due to injuries. Being overweight, lack of exercise, poor running form and too much time on stiletto heels stresses knee joints beyond their range which could lead to Arthritis so painful that surgery becomes the only option left for relief. Choosing surgery for Arthritis requires thorough evaluation to determine the type of surgery, risks and potential for success. Recovery period for knee surgery can be longer than with other types of Arthritis surgery because of the need for rest of these weight bearing joints. The goal of knee replacement surgery is to smooth over the deformed and damaged areas of the joint with artificial surfaces. For some patients only a part of the joint needs replacement. That decision is made based on whether the damage is found on the inner knee or outer knee surfaces. The re-surfacing in the knee joint literally sticks with cement. Medical cement, not the hardware store version, yet the process of sticking is similar. Knee replacement surgery is done under partial or total anesthesia depending on the patient's overall medical condition and preference. Managing risks of infection is extremely important with knee replacement surgery so patients usually take antibiotics before and after surgery. Most patients are up walking with a walker or crutches and begin working with a physical therapist within a day or two of the surgery. Intense program of physical therapy is key to recovery of mobility and joint function. After days or week in a rehab facility, the patient returns home with exercises to do and ongoing outpatient physical therapy. To get the best outcome from Arthritis knee surgery, the patient needs to find exercise and activities that become part of the lifestyle after physical therapy is done. Losing weight or maintaining weight at a healthy level is crucial to avoid placing undue strain on the repaired knees. The best candidates for knee surgery are persons willing to lose weight, manage other medical conditions, cooperate with physical therapy and make lifestyle changes. Pass on knee-jamming activities like running, skiing or tennis for new options such as swimming, walking, bike riding or ballroom dancing to keep those new knees in top shape. |