When is knee replacement surgery needed?

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When is knee replacement surgery needed?

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If you have exhausted other osteoarthritis treatment options and still experience knee pain, you should speak with your doctor about the possibility of knee replacement, also called arthroplasty. It can help reduce your pain and improve your ability to move.

Knee replacement surgery involves removing all or part of the knee joint and replacing the damaged parts with an artificial joint. These are made of metals and plastics. Although it may take months to recover fully, depending on the extent of your surgery, the relief it provides can last many years or even a lifetime.

It may be time to have knee replacement surgery if you have:

Severe knee pain that limits your everyday activities
Moderate or severe knee pain while resting, day or night
Chronic knee inflammation and swelling that doesn’t improve with rest or medications
Knee deformity: a bowing in or out of your leg
Knee stiffness: inability to bend and straighten your knee
No pain relief from NSAIDs.

Or if you:

Can’t walk more than a few blocks without significant pain
Need a cane or walker
Don’t improve with other treatments
Can’t tolerate pain medications.

This answer should not be considered medical advice...This answer should not be considered medical advice and should not take the place of a doctor’s visit. Please see the bottom of the page for more information or visit our Terms and Conditions.

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Read the Original Article: Knee Osteoarthritis: Is Knee Replacement Surgery Inevitable?

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