Joint Replacement & Orthopedics (2024)

FAQs

What is the hardest joint replacement to recover from? ›

Persistent pain

Most people recover well from knee replacement surgery and experience an improvement in pain afterward. The most common complication is that people don't like the way their new knee works, and in rare cases, pain may persist.

The first two to three weeks post-op is generally the time patients feel most discouraged due to the pain. It's hard to get up from a chair, it's difficult going up and down stairs, you're moving slowly and you have to use a walker because you have no strength or balance.

redness, tenderness, swelling or pain in your knee that is not getting better or is getting worse.

In general, research has found that orthopedic surgeries, or those involving bones, are the most painful. However, researchers also found that some minor surgeries or those classed as keyhole or laparoscopic could also cause significant pain.

The operations with the highest mortality in the 1.5 months after surgery were femur fracture reduction, hip arthroplasty (other, i.e., not total replacement), and coronary artery bypass.

What is the regret rate for knee replacement? Research suggests that just over 6% of people report not being satisfied with their total knee replacement surgery. People who undergo robotic knee replacement also have the highest satisfaction rates.

You shouldn't downhill ski or play contact sports such as football and soccer. In general, avoid sports that require jerking, twisting, pulling, or running. You should be able to do lower-impact activities, such as hiking, gardening, swimming, playing tennis, and golfing.

"It really can be difficult, especially the first few weeks, and it's definitely something people don't expect." A 2014 study from New York City's Hospital for Special Surgery found that women, especially younger women (age 45 to 65), were more vulnerable than other patients to serious pain following knee surgery.

Delaying surgery prolongs the time you'll need for healing and rehabilitation. This can result in a continued loss of mobility and function in your joint, making it more challenging to regain your strength post-surgery.

Can you ever kneel after knee replacement? ›

We estimate that roughly 80% of our patients can now kneel after their procedure. Some factors that decrease the ability to kneel include other incisions/cuts on the skin that are placed at the front of the knee.

Before undergoing knee replacement surgery, it is crucial to explore all non-surgical options available. This includes physical therapy, medications, and lifestyle modifications. Consulting with healthcare providers will provide valuable insights into the alternative treatments that may alleviate your knee pain.

You should also practise bending your knee – by the time you leave hospital, you should be able to bend your knee between 70 – 90 degrees. It's important not to overextend yourself during the recovery process.

There is no such right or wrong age for knee replacement surgery. If you find it challenging to sit, walk, or work without feeling tremendous pain in your knees, you may be considered as a candidate for a knee replacement. The age bracket of 50 to 70 years is the most common age group for knee replacement patients.

For knee replacement, full recovery often takes considerably longer than hip replacement. And having a painful hip can interfere with the rehabilitation necessary following a knee replacement. Both hip and knee replacements have high rates of success when performed well by experienced surgeons.

The longest average recovery period we found was that of a total knee replacement, which can take from three months to one full year. This is typical with many knee injuries. An ACL injury, for example, can take six months or more to recover from.

The knee replacement is much more painful than a hip or shoulder. It's got a lot of rehabilitation, and in general, I would tell a patient you're back to normal function at about the three-month mark, but you are walking the day of surgery.