7 Signs That You Require Knee Replacement

Healthcare & Medical
Posted by Priya Sharma
5
Apr 27, 2017
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Does your knee hurt when you wake up? Does your knee feel inflamed and slows your daily routine? Well if yes, then you and your doctor need to work on this. Your knee might need replacement.  Knee replacement surgery has become one the most performed surgeries of the world. More than 60,000 knee replacement procedures are conducted worldwide and are successful in catering happy living to people.

Many people opt for knee replacement, also called anthroplasty because of knee illness- osteoarthritis.
It is the condition in when the cartilage or tissues that cushions or supports the knee joint wears away. As a result the bone rubs against the bone, which is quite painful. Other people may need knee replacement because they have rheumatoid arthritis, a disease that causes chronic joint inflammation. 
Some might need knee replacement because of injury causing knee pain and limiting function.  These conditions are known to cause the gradual worsening of knee pain over a long time.

Knee replacement surgery is a major procedure and requires a significant amount of consideration. It is not only big decision, but a large commitment is needed to achieve maximum function.

Diagnosing a knee replacement process is a complex and time consuming task. Your doctor will take several factors into consideration before heading towards surgical possibilities.
 Various medical examinations like X-rays, MRI, blood test etc also acts a deciding factor.
The levels of pain, physical function, personal health, medical history, body mass index etc are also closely monitored before arriving at any decision.

Listed below are some signs and symptoms that help you determine whether you are a candidate for a total knee replacement.


You may be ready for knee replacement if –

  • When you have knee pain that keeps you awake at night. The pain is still there even when you are not using your knees like while lying or resting.
  • The pain in your knee prevents you from doing your daily activities like bathing, dressing, walking or climbing stairs.
  • Medications- when even stronger and anti- inflammatory drugs could not provide significant relief.  Less invasive treatments like injections etc provide no relief
  • When you need a wheel chair or a walker to move around.
  • You experience morning stiffness that lasts for about 30 minutes.
  • You feel grating of your joint or hear “crunching” sounds while bending or using your knees.
  • When you observe that your knee has become deformed from injury or arthritis. It bows in and out with the movement.
  • You are between 50 and 80 years old. Most people who get knee replacement belong to this age group. However age is not necessarily the deciding factor

Before you make up you mind for knee replacement, discuss with your doctor about positive and negative results associated with it.  The doctor can examine overall health and based on that, decides what is best for you. There are potential risk involved with knee surgery also like any other surgery like infections, loosening of knee replacement parts and movement limitations.


It can takes up to several weeks or months to get back to normal life after knee replacement. You will also need to adhere to knee exercises and physical therapy.

About 90% of the people resume their normal in 3-4 weeks after the knee replacement and are happy with the results.

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