Time for total joint replacement?

Like most moving parts, hips, knees and shoulder joints sometimes wear out. And when that happens, the resulting pain and stiffness can get between you and the activities you enjoy.

Lucky for us, we live in an age when we can have a damaged or diseased joint replaced safely and reliably. The following can help you better understand joint replacement surgery—and when it might be an option.

Why a good joint goes bad

One of the most common reasons for joint replacement is osteoarthritis, when the cushioning cartilage in the joints wears down over time. In its severe stages, osteoarthritis can cause bones to rub against one another. Other types of arthritis, as well as injuries and other diseases, can also damage joints and cause pain.

If you have a painful joint, your doctor may first recommend nonsurgical options, such as physical therapy, joint injections or other medications. But if options like these aren't enough to ease your pain, your doctor may suggest joint replacement surgery.

“When you have joint pain that is not completely relieved after a few days of rest and over-the-counter medications, or you have symptoms of catching or locking up of the joint that affects your ability to walk and or function, that is when you should seek further evaluation by your orthopedic specialist,” said Dr. Didi Omiyi, MD, an orthopedic surgeon with Riverside Orthopedic & Spine Center.  

Out with the old, in with the new

During a joint replacement procedure, damaged bone and cartilage are replaced with prosthetics made of metal, plastic and ceramic. These artificial joints can last for 20 or more years.

Orthopedic surgeons perform hundreds of thousands of these surgeries each year, with a high success rate. And most people who have a joint replaced are able to get back to an active lifestyle with less pain. Routine tasks, like walking and getting out of a chair, may be easier again.

Small cuts and robots

Surgeons use several different techniques to replace joints, such as:

• Traditional joint replacement. The joint is replaced through a long incision.

• Minimally invasive joint replacement. The joint is replaced through smaller incisions, and less tissue is cut. This may result in less pain after surgery and a quicker recovery.

• Robotic-assisted hip and knee replacement. During robotic-assisted surgery, the surgeon creates a 3D model of the joint. Computer mapping helps ensure a precise fit. Tiny robotic instruments, directed by the surgeon, remove the damaged joint and replace it with the artificial joint while preserving the healthy tissue around the site.

Talk to a joint expert

If you want to live without the limits of joint pain, talk to your doctor. Discuss your options and find out if joint replacement surgery is right for you.

"Early evaluation, intervention, and treatment can help to prevent worsening of the condition of the joint and make it more likely that the condition can be treated effectively, without surgery,” said Dr. Omiyi. “Late presentation by waiting too long often means that surgery is the only viable option for treating the problem."

Call (815) 214-9087 or visit ChooseRiversideOrtho.com to schedule a visit with one of our orthopedic surgeons.