Am I a Good Candidate for Hip or Knee Replacement?

Submitted by PatientsEngage on 24 November 2016

Who should have a Hip or Knee Replacement Surgery and what are the alternatives available? Dr Shital Raval suggests factors to help you make a decision. 

Let us evaluate the various options available and the factors to consider.

Arthroplasty

Total hip replacement surgery is also known as Total Hip Arthroplasty while a knee replacement surgery is called Knee Arthroplasty (can be partial or total).

Both are common and effective procedures for hip and knee arthritis.

These are elective procedures that are chosen by the patient. Joint replacement surgery can improve joint function, lifestyle and also help reduce pain.

Remember, such elective surgeries can be done at any time and patients should not be pressured to undergo it.

Who should consider it!

  • Patients who have tried all non-operative treatments* with minimal relief.
  • Patients with continual groin or knee pain due to arthritis.
  • Patients with grinding bones or friction and cartilage thinning.
  • Instability/loosening of the joint causing falls.
  • Patients who have difficulty in daily life with walking, climbing or bending.
  • Patients who are unable to sleep due to the intense pain.

Who should avoid getting it done!

  • Patients with mild or early arthritis, surgery is not recommended. Best to try all other avenues of treatment first.
  • Although infection with hip replacement is rare, if there are any indications of infection, surgery will be postponed.
  • Surgery can temporarily worsen any underlying heart or lung conditions, so a thorough assessment of the patient’s ability to recover is required.
  • People with muscle weakness disorders such as Parkinson’s Disease are less suitable candidates because they have lesser chance of recovery.
  • Patients with blood clotting disorders are advised to be very cautious and avoid risky surgeries.

*Non-operative treatment methods

These include anti-inflammatory medications, weight loss, physical therapy, steroid injections, heel wedges, unloader braces, prolotherapy or injections of the hyaluronic acid gel. 

Complimentary therapies such as acupuncture, diet, yoga, meditation, etc. are also found to be beneficial. Cutting edge treatment can now include stem cell replacement in the knee to promote cartilage growth.

Osteotomy

Another surgical alternative to joint replacement is Osteotomy. This involves slicing and realigning the bone such that the weight is shifted from the damaged to healthier bone surface. This is not commonly done anymore due to poor results compared to Arthroplasty.

Download our e-book on 20 Tips on Arthritis Management

Community
Muscle, Bone and Joint (earlier named Arthritis)
Condition
Arthritis
Osteoporosis
Changed
Tue, 10/04/2022 - 18:46

Stories

  • A young woman against a scenic backdrop of a lake and mountains
    How Diet And Lifestyle Changes Helped Me Beat Rheumatoid Arthritis
    Pallavi is a Bangalore-based ecommerce professional who was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis 4 years ago. She shares how she made diet and lifestyle changes to manage the condition. Last month, I went to my friend's son's birthday party; he was turning 8. After the cake was cut, when we all sat down to eat, all the kids were served pizza and garlic bread with cheese dip. I sat among the kids and took out my tiffin from my bag and started eating my millets upma. All the kids stared at me as…
  • A woman in a beige top holding the small of her back which is marked red to indicate back pain looking at a laptop on the table in front of her
    Ankylosing spondylitis : An Overlooked Cause Of Back Pain
    Dr. Pravin Patil, Rheumatologist gives a comprehensive overview of Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and how it is different from spondylosis and regular back pain, tips on managing this condition and the role of exercise.   Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a disease of young adults. Regrettably, ankylosing spondylitis has very little identity unto its own. Anything with “spondylitis” is considered to be linked with old age or simple ‘wear and tear’. Adding the prefix “ankylosing”…
  • The hands of a medical professional in a white coat and blue gloves examining the deformed hand of a patient with rheumatoid arthritis
    7 Common Mistakes Of Rheumatoid Arthritis Medication
    Dr Pravin Patil, Rheumatologist from Pune, Maharasthtra shares the top 7 mistakes that people with Rheumatoid Arthritis with respect to their medications. People with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are commonly prescribed several medications. It is very important to take medications regularly and follow correct instructions. It is the responsibility of the patients to know their medications well and avoid making mistakes, which can have serious consequences. Mistake No. 1: You take Methotrexate…
  • Image: Fingers pointing at a Bone Scan Image
    When To Get A Bone Scan?
    What is a Bone Scan? What do the results of the scan indicate? When do you need a Bone Scan? How often should you get a Bone Scan? We give you information that will help you discuss your options with your doctor. What is a Bone Scan  A Bone scan is done to check the bone mineral density (BMD) so as to assess strength of the bones and probability of any fractures. The scan helps identify any mild (osteopenia) or serious bone loss (osteoporosis). The most common bone density test is the DEXA…
  • Yoga For Arthritis EBooks - Vol 1 and Vol 2
    Coping with Arthritis? Stiffness in hips and knees? Stiff toes or stiff ankles? Upper body aches and pains? Stiffness in waist, back, hips, shoulders, neck? How can you ease the stiffness in your joints? Yoga is effective in managing arthritis. It reduces pain, increases flexibility, and lowers stress. It brings harmony to body and mind. We have worked with Divyayog to create a set of asanas for you to do in the comfort of your own home.  The asanas are organised in 2 ebooks. Please…
  • Mausumi, a dark haired woman on the right with her mother, a person with dementia on the left. Mother is wearing specs and a bindi on her forehead and you can see the blue and white sari draped around her shoulders
    Patience And Innovation Are The Most Important Attributes Of A Caregiver For Persons With Dementia
    Mausumi Ghosh from Mumbai talks about the travails of taking care of her mother, 77 who suffers from dementia in addition to other conditions like osteosporosis. My mother is an osteoporosis patient from 2003 when she underwent hip replacement operation in Mumbai. She recovered from the same very well and was mobile and independent till she met with a ‘fall’ at home in 2010 and broke her ‘femur bone’ (left leg). She got herself operated twice in Kolkata in AMRI hospital and both the times the ‘…
  • Stock pic of the back of a man feeling rheumatic pain while working at his desk on a laptop
    I am Young, How can I get Arthritis?
    Rheumatic diseases are erroneously believed to be the disease of the elderly, but a large number of young people too are affected by them. Dr. Gurvinder Singh Sawhney – Senior Consultant, Orthopaedics and Joint Replacement at Nanavati Hospital, gives us a perspective and suggests aggressive treatment strategies to manage flare-ups. Rheumatic or musculoskeletal diseases are considered the aches and pains of the ageing, but there are several disorders prevalent even among young people. Which are…
  • Image: Stock pic of vegetarian source s of protein - bowls of lentils and pulses, tofu, paneer, etc
    How Can A Vegetarian Get Enough Daily Protein?
    Indians, especially vegetarians often do not get adequate protein in their diet. Registered Dietician, Nutritionist and Diabetes Educator Eileen Canday guides us on how vegetarians can make sure they get enough protein in their diets. An executive member of the Indian Dietetic Association she currently works with Sir H.N. Reliance hospital in Mumbai.  1.   Why is protein important for our body? Protein is important for our body to repair tissues from the physiological wear…
  • On the left an Indian woman in a pink dress and white scarf who was over weight and on the right a trimmer version woman in a white and yellow top and black pants
    I Walk with Hand-Weights to Lose Weight and Build Health
    Kavita Behl, 53, who was diagnosed with high levels of uric acid causing excruciating pain and swelling in her feet, got back her health with a strict walking regimen and disciplined diet. Her mantra now - Be positive and Keep walking.  My problems started two years back in May 2016. I had developed swelling and pain in both my ankles and feet. The pain was so acute that I was not able to put my feet down. I had to go to a doctor. After a series of tests, I was detected with high levels of…
  • Stock pic showing Knee Pain
    Slowing Down to Speed Up Wellbeing
    Kajal* had been active and careful about her lifestyle. When she experienced weight loss and started having knee pain she went through a series of tests and specialist doctors. Not satisfied with the solutions presented, she pro-actively looked at various complementary therapies to find solutions and made some surprising findings. I’ve always been thin and active. When I hit thirty, alerted by my parents’ health problems, I switched to a healthy lifestyle. I ate wholegrain foods, healthy fats,…