Our knees are exposed to various types of chronic arthritis due to sports injuries, ageing and other factors. For example, osteoarthritis eats away the joint cartilage and surrounding bones in the knees. It is a degenerative condition that affects people over the age of fifty. Moreover, Rheumatoid arthritis causes joint inflammation, resulting in pain and stiffness, while certain accidents and injuries damage the knee cartilage.
Given the above, we find that some of these chronic diseases do not respond to primitive treatment methods such as medications or physical therapy, hence why the doctor advises surgical options for some individuals.
Knee joint replacement surgery, also known as knee arthroplasty, is a surgical treatment that entails using metal and plastic pieces to cover the ends of the bones that comprise the knee joint, replacing missing or damaged bone and cartilage.
Depending on the scenario and the level of pain or decreased range of motion, some people may require total or partial knee replacement surgery. This procedure helps reduce pain and stiffness associated with osteoarthritis of all types.
This article explores the many types of knee replacement surgery, when you should consider it, and how to recover correctly following surgery.
When To Consider Knee Replacement Surgery?
Most people who need knee replacement surgery have osteoarthritis. This degenerative condition begins with mild pain and progresses to the point of making daily tasks like walking or climbing stairs impossible.
Before recommending surgery, your doctor will consider several aspects, including your age and medical history, the amount of discomfort you experience in your knees, the joint cartilage’s condition, how much bone is coming into contact with the knee, and X-rays and MRIs findings.
If you experience any of the following symptoms, you should consult your doctor and discuss your choices for knee replacement surgery.
- Gradual onset of knee pain (which gets worse with physical activity)
- Stiffness
- Swelling
- A shooting pain after prolonged sitting or resting position
- Needing braces or a stick while walking
- Inability to respond to narcotic pain medications
Types Of Knee Replacement Surgery
The following are the primary types of knee replacement surgery, in which orthopedic surgeons replace the entire knee joint or a part of it or even repair some damaged ligaments.
- Total knee replacement: Your orthopedic surgeon will extract damaged bone and cartilage from the shin and femur, then replace it with a metal and plastic implant.
- Partial knee replacement: This surgery is suitable for individuals who have osteoarthritis on only one side of their knee since it entails replacing the damaged portion of the knee.
- Patellar replacement: This is the least common type of surgery because it requires replacing the underside of the kneecap following an accident.
Recovery: What To Expect After Knee Replacement Surgery?
After getting a knee replacement surgery, the full recovery time takes between six weeks to three months. You will receive antibiotics immediately following the procedure to reduce the risk of infection. Our experienced medical staff will also help you move and flex your legs after surgery to avoid blood clots, and we recommend that you walk for short periods of time throughout the following day to improve blood flow.
Apart from that, the success of the surgery is heavily dependent on how well you adhere to your doctor’s instructions for home care in the first few weeks post-surgery, which are as follows:
Keep Your Wound Clean
Keep surgical stitches out of the water, and change the wound dressing every day to prevent infection and irritation from the surrounding environment.
Follow A Healthy Diet
It is typical for patients to experience a loss of appetite for several weeks following surgery. Yet, iron-rich foods should be consumed to aid in healing the wound and restoring muscular strength during your recovery process.
Exercise
you can resume most of your daily activities within three to six weeks of surgery. Additionally, you should engage in some physical activity to achieve the best results, such as:
Walking around the house gently and slowly to restore your mobility.
Begin exercising with daily activities, like sitting, standing, and climbing stairs.
Performing exercises advised by your doctor multiple times a day to rehabilitate the knee joint’s range of motion and strength
As for driving, most patients can sit comfortably and bend their knee in the car seat after four to six weeks of physical therapy.
The following are some tips and guidelines for relieving post-surgical knee pain, including:
- Avoid bouncing or twisting your knees or sitting in a kneeling position.
- Use supportive tools at home to ease pressure on the knee, such as footrests, elevated toilet seats, crutches, and walking canes.
- Check your knee for redness, swelling or fluid leakage from the incision to see if there is any inflammation going on.
- Consult your physician immediately if you hear a cracking or popping sound coming from the knee joint or notice a poor range of motion in the joint.
If you have chronic knee pain or other arthritis symptoms, do not hesitate to visit us at the Novomed Centers to consult with the top orthopedic and joint doctors in the UAE to examine your condition and provide the best treatment option tailored for you!
Contact us to find out more!
