How Do I Know When It’s Time For A Knee Replacement?

How Do I Know When It’s Time For A Knee Replacement?

How do I know when it’s time for a knee replacement? It’s a great question. If you’re thinking about having knee replacement surgery, you want to make sure the time is right.

At Carolina Orthopaedic and Neurosurgical Associates (CONA), our Board Certified and Fellowship Trained Joint Replacement Specialists have extensive experience and use the latest technology to perform knee replacement procedures. While there’s no exact timeline that indicates when you should have surgery, there are a few things that can certainly help your decision process.

First, it’s important to understand basic knee anatomy and osteoarthritis.

Knee Anatomy

The tibia (shin bone), femur (leg bone) and patella articulate to form the hinged knee joint. Cartilage covers the articulating ends the bones so they move smoothly without bone-on-bone rubbing. Lower body stabilization, support, and movement are the key knee functions. Without a functional knee, patients may have a hard time walking, running or even bearing weight.

Osteoarthritis and When It’s Time for a Total Knee Replacement

Osteoarthritis causes joint inflammation and cartilage and bone deterioration. Because the knee is a large weight-bearing joint, knee osteoarthritis is common. Aging, accidents, and injuries are knee osteoarthritis causes. Symptoms include:

• Decreased range of motion
• Difficulty weight bearing
• Pain
• Stiffness
• Swelling

Symptoms usually present mildly and increase in severity if osteoarthritis isn’t treated, which is why an early diagnosis is important. Patients are encouraged to make an appointment with a Carolina Orthopaedic and Neurosurgical Associates (CONA) Joint Replacement Specialist when symptoms won’t go away on their own or don’t respond to rest, activity modification, ice, and over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications.

After an official diagnosis is made, a customized treatment plan is prescribed. It may include:

Assistive devices

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs)
• Physical therapy
• Injections

These treatment options effectively treat the majority of knee osteoarthritis cases.

When treatment options are not effective and symptoms limit a patient’s ability to perform normal day-to-day activities, it may be time for a knee replacement.

Most patients who have total knee replacement surgery have bone-on-bone rubbing that is easily seen on x-rays. The CONA specialist will explain the surgery and recovery, so you know exactly what to expect. Total knee replacement is one of the most popular and effective orthopedic surgeries because it dramatically improves pain and other symptoms and helps patients live normal lives with minimal restrictions.