Is it Time for a Joint Replacement?

Whether it's an old sports injury, unusual wear and tear or just a bum set of joints, you may find yourself thinking about replacing a hip or knee joint. With today's advanced implants, how do you know when it's time?

For starters, the decision to undergo a joint replacement is a highly personal decision. The same set of circumstances for one person might dictate a different decision for someone else. Arthritis affects everyone differently, and an individual's experience is a function of emotional health, weight, pain tolerance and activities. "Ultimately," says Brian O'Neill, MD, orthopedic surgeon and medical director of the North Memorial Joint Center, "it's a question of goals, lifestyle and overall physical condition."

It may be time to think about the possibility of joint replacement if you experience any of these challenges:

Difficulty sleeping at night because of the pain
Medications don't alleviate the pain or are no longer effective
The pain keeps you from your regular outings, such as visiting friends, going shopping or taking a vacation
Activity is restricted because it's difficult to get out of a chair, use stairs, get off the toilet or get up from the floor

Joints are formed by the ends of two or more bones connected by tissue called cartilage. Healthy cartilage serves as a protective cushion, allowing smooth, low-friction movement of the joint. The most common reason for having hip or knee replacement is osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease. Rheumatoid arthritis, a chronic inflammation of the joint lining that causes pain, stiffness and swelling, is another condition that can be helped with joint replacement.

The stereotype of the ideal candidate for joint replacement - an aging, inactive person that is hardly mobile - is a thing of the past. Many people have received hip replacements well before the twilight of their lives, enabling them to continue enjoying golf and other activities.

Still, the decision to undergo joint replacement is not one to be taken lightly. It's a surgical procedure and is not without risks, which include infection, blood clots and complications from anesthesia as well as nerve damage, dislocation or breakage, and wearing out or loosening of the joint over time.

If you think you might be a candidate for joint replacement, visit your physician for an examination, tests and x-rays to identify the extent of joint damage. Your physician may prescribe medication, therapy or other treatments. If treatment options don't help, your doctor may recommend joint replacement surgery and refer you to an orthopedic surgeon for additional evaluation.

If you'd like to learn more about joint replacement, call Chuck Lister, coordinator of the North Memorial Joint Center, at (763) 520-1800.