3 Steps to Help You Decide
You finally saw an orthopedic doctor about the pain you’ve felt in your knees for the past several months. After an exam and some tests, your doctor says you have osteoarthritis. Whether it’s in your knees, hips or even your shoulders, an arthritis diagnosis may seem like a direct ticket to a joint replacement. But how long will the journey be before you reach the destination of surgery? A few months? A few years? A decade?
There is no clear cut answer to the question “when is the best time to get a joint replacement?” What’s right for one patient won’t be right for another, so making this decision is a very individualized and emotional process. And in the end, every person who makes it will base their choice on different factors.
However, here are three steps we suggest taking to help make a decision on if you need a joint replacement and when is the right time to have it.
STEP 1: Look for physical and emotional signs.
- You are no longer able to perform everyday tasks without help due to joint pain or swelling.
- Joint pain is unmanageable and is significantly affecting your quality of life.
- You’ve tried exercise programs, physical therapy, medications and injections to relieve pain without long-term success.
- The medications or injections you are using help alleviate joint pain but cause other side-effects.
- Limited mobility has led to emotional side-effects like feeling depressed or isolated.
STEP 2: Weigh the benefits and potential disadvantages.
- Benefit – A joint replacement is a long-term solution, typically lasting 15-25 years.
- However, if you are younger when you have the procedure, the risk of needing a second surgery to replace a worn out implant may increase.
- Benefit – A joint replacement alleviates most pain.
- However, a replacement in one joint won’t stop pain from occurring in other joints affected by arthritis.
- Benefit – A joint replacement helps get you back to the activities you love.
- However, the recovery takes time as well as a mental and physical commitment to rebuild and maintain strength and mobility.
STEP 3: Ask your orthopedic doctor lots of questions.
- How bad is the damage in my joint? Am I bone on bone?
- Do you have educational classes or resources to help me understand what to expect before, during and after surgery?
- What activities should I be able to go back to after a joint replacement?
- If I wait, will the surgery be more difficult?
- How long does it usually take to recover from a joint replacement surgery?
- Are there any other non-surgical options I should try?
- Is there a point when it’s too late to have a joint replacement?
Going through these three steps helps you determine three things, all of which are important in making your final decision:
- Is your joint physically in need of a joint replacement?
- Are you emotionally and mentally ready to have the surgery?
- Will you get back to a higher quality of life after having a joint replacement?
