Does knee pain interfere with your life?

Replacement may help when joints wear out

Your knee joints are a crucial part of your ability to move comfortably. As we age, our knees tend to get worn down, which can cause your knees to hurt when you walk or swing your legs. This wearing down can not only impact your mobility but also your quality of life. Knee replacement surgery replaces worn-out knee joints to improve mobility and ease pain. Keep reading for information that can help you determine if it's time to talk to your doctor about knee replacement.

What is Knee Replacement?

Your knee is similar to a door hinge. A door hinge allows a door to open and close, which is similar to how your knee helps your leg bend and straighten. Your knee is where the thigh bone meets the shin bone. Ligaments keep the bones aligned, and a tough smooth tissue called cartilage pads the ends of the bones and allows them to slide smoothly against each other.

According to the Mayo Clinic, knee cartilage wears down with age, eventually causing the bones to grind together as you move. This can cause the knee to hurt with movement, such as walking and straightening your leg. Knee replacement replaces your cartilage and damaged bone with artificial parts made from metal and plastic. With the replacement of these parts and rehabilitative services after surgery, your mobility and quality of life can improve, often dramatically.

The types of knee replacement can vary depending on your needs. If only one part of the knee is damaged, just that part can be replaced. However, if your entire knee joint is damaged, then the ends of the thigh bone and shin bone are removed and the entire joint is replaced.

Do I need knee replacement surgery?

Your primary care provider will help you determine your need for knee replacement. If you are having the following problems according to Utah Healthcare, let your doctor know to come to a decision.

• Arthritis is making it difficult for you to get around, reducing your quality of life
• Physical therapy, exercise, and/or pain medication are not helping you get better
• Your knees are stiff and swollen
• Your knee hurts when you rest
• Your leg bows in or out

Risks

Like all surgeries, knee replacement surgery comes with risks. These include:

• Blood clots
• Nerve damage
• Infection

The replacements used in this surgery are durable and may last for 15 years. If complications occur or the artificial knee wears out, another surgery may be needed to replace the worn parts.

What happens during the surgery?

The surgery can take 1-2 hours. During the surgery, the surgeon makes an incision over the knee and removes the damaged bone and/or cartilage. Then, the surgeon implants the replacement parts needed.

After the surgery, your rehab will begin almost immediately. Studies show that early rehab improves outcomes such pain reduction and range of motion. Your individual rehab plan will depend on factors such as age, underlying health conditions, the strength of your leg muscles before surgery, and your goals for active living.

To prevent the risk of blood clots after surgery, your doctor may suggest the following:

• Movement with crutches or a walker soon after surgery
• Applying pressure via compression socks
• Taking blood thinners

What happens when I go home?

After you are discharged from the hospital, you will be prescribed a period of rehabilitation to regain optimal function of your knee. This post-operative care normally focuses on physical therapy but may also include occupational therapy and general strengthening.

Your surgeon and physical therapist will recommend exercises for you to do at home during your rehab. You will also receive long-term recommendations on exercises to do and activities to avoid in order to maximize the durability and benefits of your new knee joint.

St. Mary’s Hospital has been named a high performing hospital in the 2023-2024 U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals study for knee replacement surgery, hip replacement surgery, stroke care and heart attack care. Over 4,500 hospitals were evaluated. Recognized hospitals excelled at factors such as clinical outcomes, level of nursing care and patient experience.

Learn more about St. Mary’s joint replacement services at https://www.stmaryshealthcaresystem.org/find-a-service-or-specialty/orthopedics/.

If you need a PCP, St. Mary’s can help. Find a complete list of our medical group PCPs at https://www.stmaryshealthcaresystem.org/medical-group/primary-care. You can use InQuicker, our online scheduling tool, to make a new patient appointment based on location or soonest available time, all from your desktop or smartphone.