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Are You a Candidate for Hip or Knee Replacement?

To the uninitiated, knee or hip replacement surgery might sound like a magical fix. 

But while these operations do restore mobility and reduce pain for many people with severe arthritis, even with refinements in technique, rehabilitation, and anaesthesia, they are considered a last resort.

That’s because many people with hip or knee arthritis see significant improvements in their symptoms and quality of life with the right kind of exercise program — a treatment that doesn’t carry the risks of surgery. (If you’d like to learn more about how exercise can treat and even prevent knee and hip arthritis, you can read these Good Times health features: ‘It Pays to be Nice to Your Knees‘, and ‘Want to Prevent Arthritis? Exercise!‘)

And to achieve the best possible results, patients should be in the best possible shape prior to surgery, and willing to commit to months of post-surgical rehabilitation.

So when are you considered a good candidate for total joint replacement? And what should you know before agreeing to such an operation?

Find out in this health feature I wrote for Good Times in 2015: ‘Are You a Candidate for Hip or Knee Replacement?’

It’s also worth noting that since I wrote this piece, some hospitals have been able to start releasing suitable hip and knee replacement patients on the day of surgery, or after only a one-night stay. (You can read about that here: ‘New Hips, Shorter Trips. ) 

A big thank-you to the interviewees who so generously shared their time, stories and expertise:

 

Resources

Arthritis Research Canada

The Arthritis Society (Treatments: Surgery)

Canadian Orthopaedic Foundation

Osteoarthritis Research Society International

Image by Andersonvr Courtesy of Pixabay