Total joint replacement surgery If you experience joint pain that prevents you from doing routine activities, sports or hobbies, it may be time for a change. As dramatic as it sounds, completely replacing your aching joint could bring you some much-needed pain relief. What is total joint replacement? Total joint replacement is a surgical procedure. It is performed in a hospital or an outpatient surgery center. During the surgery, your doctor removes damaged cartilage and bone from the affected joint and replaces it with a device made of metal, plastic or ceramic. This device is called a prosthetic. It is designed to move just like a natural joint. Joint replacements are performed most often on hips and knees. But other joints can be replaced, too, such as the shoulder, elbow, wrist or ankle. Typically, your provider will want you to try nonsurgical treatments before choosing surgery. These can include weight loss, low-impact exercise, joint injections or medication. If you have tried some of these options and still have severe symptoms, your provider may suggest surgery. Is it safe and effective? Hip and knee joint replacements are common procedures. Each year in the U.S., about 790,000 knee replacements and 544,000 hip replacements are performed. You can expect your joint replacement to last for 20 years or more. How long is recovery? In most cases, patients can resume normal daily activities by six weeks after surgery. Your doctor will want you to walk with assistance on the day after surgery. This may be challenging, but it will improve your recovery in the long run. After the surgery, you will progress from using a walker to using a cane or nothing at all within a month or two. During recovery, avoid highimpact activities such as sports. You’re likely to have some pain during your recovery. Follow your provider’s post-surgery instructions, and ask them about any concerns you have. Source: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons What is an orthopedic specialist? Break a bone? Tear a tendon? Have pain from arthritis or an injury to your joints or spine? An orthopedic specialist, or ortho, can help. These providers treat people with issues involving their bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles and nerves. Training typically includes five years of residency, as well as one or more years of advanced training in a specialty. What they treat These are some problems and areas of the body that an ortho can treat. Hands and wrists. They can treat carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis, infections, and nerve and tendon injuries. Elbows. Orthos can address elbow problems such as biceps tears, dislocations and fractures, and tennis or golf elbow. Spine. They offer both surgical and nonsurgical treatments for degenerative disk disease, spine fractures, herniated disks, infections, tumors and nerve problems. Hips, knees and shoulders. Orthos treat issues in these areas, including joint replacements. Sports-related injuries. They can provide nonoperative treatment—for pros and amateurs alike—for the 90% of sports injuries that don’t require surgery. When to see an ortho If you break a bone or have intense pain, visit the Emergency Department. For ongoing, nonemergency symptoms, your primary care provider may recommend that you see an ortho. Your ortho will likely try nonsurgical approaches first, like pain medication and rehabilitation. If these don’t work, they have the expertise to perform surgery to repair an injury or correct a condition. Make an appointment Visit www.kerncountyhealthbenefits.com or call the Member Services phone number on the back of your ID card for a full list of contracted providers. Sources: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons; American Medical Society for Sports Medicine
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