When is Joint Replacement the Best Option?
Osteoarthritis or injury can wreak havoc on affected joints, including your knee or hip. This can make it difficult to do simple activities such as walking or climbing stairs, let alone remaining physically active. Depending on the severity of the damage to your joint, your doctor may begin with nonsurgical treatments. However, if conservative treatments fail to provide relief from pain and your ability to be mobile is decreasing, joint replacement surgery becomes your best treatment option.
Non-Surgical Treatment vs. Joint Replacement
The knee and hip are the two most commonly replaced joints in the body, often because of osteoarthritis or other inflammatory conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis. Anti-inflammatory medications, corticosteroid injections, physical therapy and arthroscopic surgeries can provide some pain relief, but eventually, the progression of damage to the joint may become too great.
Knee joint replacement may be indicated if:
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- You have bone-on-bone arthritis in your knee
- Progressive instability of your knee is occurring that increases your risk of falling
- The pain in your knee or hip has become disruptive to your daily activities, including:
- Difficulty sleeping, even when using anti-inflammatory medications
- Staying in your house more to avoid activity
- Inability to go up and down stairs
- Having to depend on a cane to get around
If you have advanced hip arthritis, you might experience similar issues with pain that interferes with your daily activities and makes it difficult to sleep. But you may also experience groin pain and pain in your knee when there is nothing wrong with your knee.
When Joint Replacement is Needed
If it is time to consider surgery to replace your knee or hip joint, 3D Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Center is ready to help. Dr. David Dominguez is specially trained in total joint replacement that can help relieve your pain and get you moving again. Contact our office to learn more about the benefits of joint replacement surgery.