Do I need a Surgery?
The decision to pursue surgery is individualized and incorporates many different factors including the severity of your symptoms, the severity of your joint problem, your age and desired activity level, and your overall health status. No surgeon can make the decision for you, however, we hope to provide you with some information to consider when making the best choice for you and your body. The following links will connect you to some guildelines for some of the conditions that we most commonly treat. Keep in mind that these guidelines are general and may or may not pertain to your specific situation or problem.
Do I need a Hip Replacement?
Hip replacement surgery is a proven treatment option for management of end-stage arthritis of the hip joint. The pain and stiffness experienced by a patient with arthritis results from a degenerative process in which your joint has lost its normal smooth cartilage. Loss of the smooth cartilage results in irregular surfaces rubbing against each other when you move your hip or place weight on it. Unless you had an injury, your hip arthritis may be related to your heredity or to heavy use. X-rays of patients with hip arthritis will demonstrate narrowing of the space between the bones of the hip joint.
Hip replacement surgery should be considered when your hip arthritis keeps you from performing the activities you enjoy due to hip pain (such as golfing, hiking, walking, working out, dancing, climbing stairs). You may notice loss of motion, deep pain, grinding in your hip, groin or buttock, and difficulty putting on your socks and shoes. It is important that you are in your best state of health before proceeding – good preparation makes for a good recovery.
Evaluation by a trained specialist which includes obtaining your medical history, examining your hip, and reviewing your x-rays can ultimately determine if you would be a good candidate for hip replacement surgery
Do I need a knee replacement?
Once conservative measures have failed, knee replacement surgery is one of the most effective treatments for end-stage arthritis of the knee joint. Knee replacement surgery should be considered when your knee arthritis keeps you from performing the activities you enjoy due to knee pain (such as walking up and down stairs, golfing, hiking, walking, working out, dancing). It is important that you are in your best state of health before proceeding – good preparation makes for a good recovery.
Knee arthritis is usually from a combination of both genetic and environmental factors. Some of our patients report that their sister, aunt and grandfather all have arthritis. Other patients report that they had a prior injury and have had knee pain since. Your knee pain and stiffness result from a degenerative process in which your joint has lost its normal smooth cartilage, so that now you have pain from the irregular surface of your bones rubbing on each other.
Alternative treatments such as anti-inflammatory medications, injections, and physical therapy can sometimes defer the need for surgery. Knee replacement surgery is an elective procedure, so there is no urgency to making a decision. However, if your knee arthritis is interfering with your day to day life, if may be time to consult an orthopedic surgeon to learn more about your options.
