Do You Need Join Replacement Surgery?

by Kevin Smith Author

Dealing with joint pain can have a significant impact on your day to day activities. Something as simple as bending over or going for a walk can become a painful task. Most people turn to medication at the first signs of pain, but that will only take you so far. In fact, if you rely on your medication too much, or start going over the recommended dose, you may end up doing more harm to other parts of your body. While no one wants to go through surgery, sometimes it may be the only way to get rid of the pain. However, before you make any serious decisions, make sure you consult with joint replacement surgeons in Jacksonville, FL. There’re other, lighter medical procedures that can be done to ease your pain, but if the joint damage is sever, then surgery is your only option.

Have You Tried Other Remedies?

Hip, knee and shoulder replacement surgery are the most common types of joint replacement procedures in the U.S. However, knee and hip issues are much more common among adults, mostly because of issues with weight. Your hips and knees contain some of the biggest joints in your body, and those joints are also responsible for supporting most of your weight. This is why the deterioration of cartilage is more common in those two areas. Due to this fact, weight loss has been shown to improve joint pain, and in fact, help people avoid joint replacement surgery altogether. However, you may be past the point of diet and exercise, in which case light medical procedures, such as knee injections may be required. If your knee joints lack cartilage, but haven't suffered serious damage, your doctor may inject your knee joints with hyaluronic acid, which lubricates the knee and improves shock absorption. Stronger medication is another way to go. However, keep in mind that simply masking your pain won’t make the problem go away. If you choose to rely solely on medication to get through your day, you could end up with way more problems than just joint pains.

Don’t Hesitate to Speak to a Doctor

Few people like going to the hospital, and even less like going through surgery, but if it’s necessary then you shouldn’t wait. If you’ve spoken with joint replacement surgeons in Jacksonville, FL, and they said surgery is your only option, that means your joints are in critical condition. Ignoring them and trying to find an alternative solution won’t get you very far.