3 Facts About Hip and Knee Replacements: What You Need to Know

While the idea of having surgery to replace a major joint with prosthetic material may seem frightening to some, it is actually one of the safest and most effective surgical procedures available in the world of orthopaedic care. 

Here at Rothman Orthopaedic Institute, we’ve seen first hand, time and time again, the amazing impact that hip and knee replacements can have on our patients’ lives. From pain relief to increased mobility, the benefits are substantial. And the good news is that our knee specialists are highly trained, nationally sought after surgeons, who have mastered the art of performing these surgeries with precision and skill.

Hip and Knee Replacements: What You Need to Know
You can read all about the surgical procedures themselves, the actual materials used, and other important details, but for the purposes of this article, we’d like to focus on three important facts about knee and hip replacements. These facts answer a few of the most commonly asked questions we hear from our patients, so we’re confident that they’ll prove helpful for you in your research.

Let’s get started.

1. Hospital Stay: Did you know that most patients go home within one or two days after having these total joint replacement surgeries? It’s true! For the average patient, surgery day involves a morning pre-op visit with their surgeon and the anesthesia team. Following surgery, patients are monitored in the post-anesthesia care unit and then transferred to their room, where rest and physical therapy can take place. 
   
   Once patients are able to walk, eat and manage their pain (which is often the very next day), they are allowed to go home!
2. Pain Management: All surgeries involve some element of pain and we’d be lying if we tried to tell you that knee and hip replacement will be painless. But here’s the thing...if you’re truly suffering from severe arthritis, you’re already in pain! In fact, the corrective nature of these joint replacement procedures actually results in many patients experiencing pain relief immediately (or shortly after) surgery!
   
   As far as managing pain during and after surgery, patients can expect to be sedated during a hip and knee replacement. Most postoperative pain can be controlled with simple, oral pain relief medication, although intravenous pain meds are sometimes used for a short time, depending on the case.
3. Overview of Benefits: When discussing hip and knee replacements: you need to know that these incredibly advanced and streamlined surgeries not only restore our patients' quality of life but, they also allow patients to return to the activities they once loved. 
   
   If you’ve missed playing golf or being able to get on the floor and play with your grandkids, joint replacement may be the solution you need to relieve pain, restore mobility and restore the structure and strength of the joint and limbs.

For even more details on these important surgical procedures, please plan to join us for an upcoming live seminar event, hosted by Dr. Chen. Admission is free and the event is open to the public! There will be a presentation then time for Q&A with Dr. Chen.   Register now! For more information, please visit us here or contact us at 1-800-321-9999.