Is Knee Replacement Surgery Right for Me?

Knee pain is quite common — according to the National Institutes of Health, approximately 25% of adults in the United States experience frequent knee pain. 

If you have knee pain that makes it difficult to get through your daily activities, knee replacement surgery could be a solution.

Providers usually recommend knee replacement for patients who have tried other treatment options, such as pain relievers, joint injections or physical therapy, without success. When these therapies fail to relieve pain, surgery may provide the long-term relief they need.

“Knee replacement surgery can be helpful for patients whose knee pain is limiting their quality of life,” says Dr. Vandit Sardana, a board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon with Beaufort Memorial Orthopaedic Specialists. “Following a knee replacement, most patients experience improved mobility, much less pain and a return to their normal activity level.”

The Basics of Knee Replacement Surgery

The knee joint can be damaged by many different factors ranging from trauma to the knee to osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. These conditions cause inflammation in the knee joint, which leads to pain, swelling and other disruptive symptoms.

Knee replacement, also called knee arthroplasty, is the most common type of joint replacement. Each year, surgeons in the United States perform nearly 800,000 total knee replacements. 

During total knee replacement surgery, a surgeon removes the damaged knee joint, including parts of the cartilage and bone, and replaces it with artificial components made of metal and plastic. The surgeon also inserts a plastic spacer between the metal parts of the artificial joint, allowing them to glide smoothly within the knee.

While total knee replacements are the more common type of knee replacement, some patients opt for partial knee replacement. During a partial knee replacement, a surgeon removes only the damaged cartilage and bone — as compared with the entire knee joint in a total knee replacement — replacing them with artificial components. 

Read More: 4 Common Myths About Total Joint Replacement, Debunked

When You Might Need a Knee Replacement

When does knee pain become enough of a problem that it requires surgery? That’s the question orthopedic surgeons consider when recommending knee replacement surgery for their patients. 

You may benefit from knee replacement surgery if you have:

• Chronic knee swelling that is not improved by anti-inflammatory medications
• Knee pain even when resting or sleeping
• Knee deformity, with the knee bowing in or out
• Knee pain that isn’t relieved by nonsurgical treatments, including pain relievers or anti-inflammatory medications, joint injections, physical therapy and mobility aids
• Severe knee pain, stiffness or swelling that limits normal activities, such as climbing stairs or walking

If your orthopedic provider recommends you undergo knee replacement surgery, ask about which type of surgery will work best for your needs. Partial knee replacement may be an option in some cases when damage is limited to one compartment of the knee, but total knee replacement is needed for those with more widespread joint damage.

What To Consider When Scheduling a Knee Replacement

When scheduling a knee replacement surgery, there are three important factors to consider:

1. Time off: Determine when you can take time off work for the surgery, recovery period and rehabilitation sessions. Review your employer's sick time and paid leave policies.
2. Weather: Keep in mind the weather conditions during your recovery period. Choose a time when you will be comfortable with loose-fitting clothing and safe mobility devices.
3. Challenges in recovery: Understand the intensive rehabilitation process after surgery. Consider any potential events or obstacles that may affect your ability to attend rehab sessions and follow-up appointments.

These considerations are crucial for setting a surgery date that is appropriate for your personal circumstances.

What to Expect Before Knee Replacement Surgery

You’ve made the decision to have knee replacement surgery. Now what? 

Before you undergo a knee replacement, you’ll have presurgical testing to ensure you’re in good general health and can safely have surgery. If you have any chronic medical conditions, such as heart disease, you may also need to have a specialist in that field evaluate and clear you for surgery.

You’ll receive a set of instructions from your surgeon’s office to help you prepare for surgery. These instructions offer guidance about specifics such as whether and when to discontinue medications before surgery, when to begin fasting, and when to arrive at the hospital for your procedure. Presurgical exercises may also be included. 

“We sometimes suggest exercises to perform in advance of knee replacement to help you recover more quickly following surgery,” Dr. Sardana says. “By doing those exercises before surgery, you can strengthen the muscles that surround your knee joint and work on your range of motion, giving you a jumpstart on recovery.”

What to Expect After Knee Replacement Surgery

Knee replacement surgery typically takes between one and two hours. Following surgery, you’ll be moved into a recovery room, where you’ll be carefully monitored. Within a short time, a physical therapist will come to your room to help you get up and moving. 

In most cases, after meeting some mobility and range of motion milestones, you’ll go home the same day. Your recovery will continue at home, guided by another set of instructions for postsurgical care. 

These instructions will provide you with details about how to identify signs of infection and complications such as blood clots, what exercises and stretches to do, how to care for your incisions, and when and how to take a shower or bath. Your instructions will also include information about the medications your surgeon prescribed, such as pain relievers and blood-thinning drugs, and your follow-up appointments with your surgeon and other providers. 

After knee replacement surgery, you’ll need to participate in intensive physical therapy to help you recover. These physical therapy sessions will include exercises to build strength in the muscles around the knee, improve range of motion and flexibility, and get you back to walking independently. Your physical therapist may also give you tips on how to best use and protect your new knee joint.

Your surgeon and other members of your care team can provide you with specifics about what to expect after knee replacement surgery. Knee replacement surgery offers excellent outcomes, helping people resume the activities they love with less discomfort. 

That relief is long-lasting, too. In most cases, the artificial joints used in knee replacement surgery today last for at least 15 years after surgery — and often even longer.

Read More: How Long Do Knee Replacements Last on Average?

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