Total knee replacement is a surgery that helps people who have problems with their knees. The knee is a joint that helps us walk, bend, and move around. Sometimes, the knee can get damaged due to things like arthritis, injuries, or wear and tear. When the knee is really hurting and not working well, a doctor might recommend a total knee replacement to help fix the problem. Patients who need knee replacement will often describe a constant dull achy pain that makes it hard to stand in places for a long time or walk long distances. They may also have pain at night that wakes them from sleep period their knees will feel stiff in the morning and somewhat looser during the day but by the end of the day they are often very sore.
The pain associated with knee arthritis is related to loss of a special tissue called cartilage that lives on the ends of the knee bones. Cartilage is slippery and spongy and not only allows for smooth movement of the joint but it allows us to absorb the stress of walking running and jumping. Once the cartilage wears out the bone below the cartilage is relatively exposed and can become very painful. At this point there is no way to regrow large amounts of cartilage but smaller defects can sometimes be filled in during surgery. If the amount of cartilage that is lost is too significant a total knee replacement can be performed.
During a total knee replacement surgery, the damaged parts of the knee joint are taken out and replaced with artificial parts made of metal and plastic. These new parts help the knee move smoothly and without pain. It is important for the surgeon to align the knee correctly so that the knee can last a long time. A knee replacement that is put in correctly along with a patient who performs therapy and exercises after surgery can last up to 30 years in many cases. Pain relief is typically excellent and the vast majority of patients regain good range of motion.
After the surgery, patients will need to do physical therapy exercises to help strengthen their knee and get back to moving around. It's important to follow the doctor's advice and take good care of the new knee to make sure it heals properly. This includes maintaining a healthy weight and living with a healthy diet. With time and effort, most people are able to walk, work, sleep and enjoy life again after total knee replacement.If your knee is giving you trouble, call one of our experts at Wisconsin River Orthopaedics today.