Excellent Knee Replacement Recovery Tips
Medically known as arthroplasty, a knee replacement is a surgical procedure that replaces a damaged knee with an artificial one made of plastic, metal, or polymer. The procedure helps alleviate pain and restore knee function and mobility for patients with osteoarthritis and other conditions. The first knee replacement surgery was performed in 1968, and over 600,000 of these surgeries are now performed each year. A knee replacement may be appropriate for patients who struggle with walking and getting out of chairs. It is also appropriate for individuals with knee deformities and severe knee pain. When considering surgery, orthopedic specialists will do x-rays and imaging studies to visualize the specific damage to the knee and formulate a plan for which type of knee replacement may be most effective for the patient. The orthopedist will also physically examine the patient's knee, feeling for tenderness and evaluating range of motion. Doctors may ask overweight patients to lose weight before the operation so they can have a smoother recovery. Knee replacements are typically performed with general anesthesia, and they may also be done using spinal anesthesia.
Recovery from knee replacement can be a lengthy process. It is often done in stages, and some patients may need a full year before they feel completely recovered. The steps discussed below are general parts of the recovery process for all knee replacement patients.