The Benefits Of Knee Replacement With Patients With Severe Arthritis
You don't realize just how much you rely on your knees until they become arthritic and every step leads to pain. Many arthritis patients are able to manage their arthritic knees with pain relievers, topical creams, and maybe some steroid injections for a time. But eventually, the knee becomes painful even with these treatments, and it becomes clear that you need to take further action. Knee replacement, for many patients, ends up being the best choice. Below, you will find a discussion of its benefits.
Knee replacement gets you off medications.
Arthritis patients tend to take more and more medications over time in an effort to keep pain under control. With opiates, this can lead to issues with dependence. And even taking NSAIDs long-term can cause problems like stomach pain, ulcers, and kidney damage. After your knee replacement surgery, you will need to take pain relievers for a few weeks. But after that, you should be able to wean yourself off of them.This is better for your overall health in the long-term and it also keeps you from having to spend countless dollars on medication each month.
Knee replacement is essentially a permanent solution.
So many arthritis treatments are temporary. You get a cortisone shot and it lasts about three months. You get a massage, and you feel better for a few days. Sure, a knee replacement will require you to rest and take some time off from work, but once you are recovered, it's all over. The relief is permanent. Most replacement knees these days last about 20 years. If you are still around 20 years from now, you may need to have part of the artificial joint replaced, but that's a bridge you can cross when you come to it.
Knee replacement restores mobility rather than just covering pain.
Other than knee replacement, most arthritis treatments really only focus on masking the pain. Even when your pain is minimal, you are likely to have trouble bending and using the joint — and this can be a big deal with a joint as essential as your knee! A knee replacement will restore your mobility, which will allow you to do activities you love again. That's a lot better than just popping a pill to make yourself feel better.
Any joint replacement is a major surgical procedure, but for many patients with severe knee arthritis, it really is the best route forward.