All You Should Know About Joint Replacement

Surgery is always the last option after physical therapy and medical treatment. Similarly, joint replacement surgery is often opted by people when your body does not respond to other medical treatments. However, it is considered as a highly effective way of eliminating joint pain, correcting a deformity, and helping improve the patient’s mobility (movement). Commonly orthopedics and joint replacement surgery are performed to treat advanced arthritis.

People who often have severe joint pain, stiffness, limping, muscle weakness, limited motion, and swelling undergo joint replacement surgery. However, there are certain factors which determine the surgery like the joint that is affected and the amount of damage, patients may have trouble with ordinary activities such as walking, putting on socks and shoes, getting into and out of cars, and climbing stairs. However, hip and knee replacements are the most commonly performed joint replacements, but replacement surgery can be also performed on other joints, as well, including the ankle, wrist, shoulder, and elbow.

Causes of joint problems

However, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are the most common causes of the joints not working properly. 

Here are certain causes which leads to joints problems:

1. Heredity 
2. Problems with the development of the joint
3. Genetic (inherited) tendency to problems with the cartilage
4. Minor repetitive injuries
5. Severe trauma to the joint cartilage  

What are the types of joint replacements?

Majorly the joint replacement surgery is performed of two body parts:

1. Knee replacement
2. Hip replacement

Knee replacement

Knee replacement can be defined as a procedure that involves replacing an injured or ailing knee with an artificial joint, or prosthesis. The procedure involves the replacement of your old knee and with a prosthesis usually taking less than two hours, but recovery and rehabilitation can last months. At the time of selecting prosthetic knee, this can be determined by the various factors like age, weight, activity level and overall health.

However, Knee replacement in India is quite common as elderly people often face the knee joint problem suffering from pain. There are many super speciality hospitals that treat the same. The prosthesis is made of metal alloys, plastics, and polymers. It mimics the function of a knee.

What before and after the knee replacement surgery?

The preparations involve the medical examination of your overall health and anaesthesia risks. This evaluation will also include;

1. Your medical history
2. Physical examination
3. Blood tests
4. X-rays
5. Other imaging tests

On the other, it is very imperative to take the utmost care and precautionary measures after the surgery as the success of its majorly depends on it. However, in the initial period of post-surgery, your leg will feel stiff experiencing some pain. However, the patients usually consume painkillers through your vein, that helps manage this pain. 

4 preventive measures that you should take post-surgery:

1. Physical therapy
2. Putting less weight post-surgery
3. Climbing one stair at a time
4. Right body positioning 

Hip replacement

Hip replacement surgery can be defined as a procedure which involves surgical removal a painful hip joint suffering with arthritis and replaces it with an artificial joint often made from metal and plastic components. It can be an option for you if your hip pain interferes with daily activities and more-conservative treatments haven't helped or are no longer effective. 

Pre-surgery preparations

The surgeon will evaluate the following:

1. Medical history and current medications
2. Blood test and physical examination to know you are fit for the surgery
3. Order blood tests, an X-ray and possibly an MRI 

Post-surgery effects

Usually, after the surgery, there will be an increased risk of blood clots in your legs. 

3 possible measures to prevent this complication include:

1. Slow but increase in movement
2. Pressure application
3. Blood-thinning medication
4. Regular physical therapy

So, if you are planning to undergo any of the above replacement surgeries than should get proper treatment from the Best hospital in India.