Planning for Total Joint Replacement
Joint replacement is surgery to replace an arthritic or badly damaged hip or knee joint with man-made parts. The man-made part is called a prosthesis (prahs-thee-sis) and can be made of many different materials, including metal, polyethylene, ceramics or a mixture of materials. The surgery is done to lessen pain and make moving easier and better.
Why You Need A Joint Replacement
Usually people who need a joint replacement have a long history of osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis of the hip or knee.
When you have rheumatoid arthritis, the tissue lining the joint becomes inflamed and causes pain. Over the years, this inflammation causes swelling in the joint and damages the cartilage and bone of the affected joints.
When you have osteoarthritis, the cartilage becomes frayed and pitted from wear and tear of repeated stress and trauma. When the cartilage is damaged, the normally smooth movement at the joint is replaced by painful friction. Osteoarthritis occurs primarily in weight-bearing joints such as the hip, knee or foot.
As described above, joint replacement surgery involves replacing the worn joint with a prosthesis or artificial joint. Your surgeon will choose the prosthesis that is best for you. Once you joint is more stable, less painful and stronger, you will be better able to do some of the activities that you enjoy. Sports such as golf and skiing are allowed. Impact sports that involve running, however, cause increased wear on the prosthesis and are not advised.
What to Expect
Joint replacement takes about 2 to 3 hours and requires about a 4-day stay in the hospital. Patients usually are admitted on the morning of surgery. Before either procedure, patients usually are taken to a pre-operative holding area. An intravenous line may be placed into your vein. This line is a small tube that is placed using a needle. It allows the doctors and nurses to give you medications, as needed, during and after surgery. Families are welcome to stay in the pre-operative holding area until it is time for you to receive anesthesia and you are taken to the operating room.
After surgery, you will be taken to a recovery area. The exact name of this area may differ in each hospital, but the function is the same. In this area, the nurses and doctors will check on you frequently. The time spent in this area can vary widely from person to person. You might not be transferred to your hospital room until late in the afternoon or evening.
Routine care after joint replacement involves wound care, physical therapy and muscle strengthening. Some patients will go to another health care facility for rehabilitation after their surgery. Some patients can go home if they feel well enough and can manage routine activities with the help of their family or other services. The plan for care after surgery depends on your needs as well as your insurance plan and coverage.
Recovering from joint replacement surgery depends on your general health before the procedure and the type of joint that is being replaced. The goal of this period is to comfortably return you to the activities of daily living. While most hip and knee replacements are successful in relieving pain and/or improving movement, recovery does take time. Most patients need at least 3 to 5 months to get back to their strength and energy.
When you are scheduled for total joint replacement surgery, you will be sent a packet in the mail containing detailed information regarding planning for you total joint replacement.
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