If you have ongoing knee pain, what are you doing to get relief? If you’re opening an ibuprofen or Aleve bottle a few times a day, it might be time to see an orthopedic provider. Would you be open to trying a new course of treatment? You might even be a candidate for something permanent like knee replacement surgery.
Benjamin Walters, DO, joint replacement surgeon with Avera Orthopedics in Sioux Falls, SD, understands the effect knee pain can have on living an active life. He offers answers to some of the most frequently asked questions regarding knee replacement surgery.
My knee doesn’t feel right. What’s going on?
“When something doesn’t feel right, there might be more going on with your knee,” said Walters. “It’s time to see a specialist.”
Experts need to diagnose the source of your knee pain. If the pain comes on suddenly and severely, accompanied by a rush of heat, perhaps it’s an ACL or meniscus tear. Most likely an injury, you’ll go to an emergency department, acute care or a designated orthopedic urgent care.
Joint-related knee symptoms grow over time (even a short amount of time if you don’t alter your activity). Symptoms include sensations of pain, less range of motion and a sense of weakness when putting weight on that side. Schedule an appointment with an orthopedic specialist, no referral required, in these instances.
Are there alternatives to knee surgery?
If it’s joint-related, your orthopedic specialist will most likely suggest nonsurgical treatment options first. These may include:
- Oral pain medications to reduce inflammation and discomfort
- Physical therapy to address joint weakness, tight tissues or instability
- Cortisone shots can sometimes help in diagnosis and offer long-term pain relief
- Hyaluronic acid, a shot that mimics the natural fluid between the joints
- Nerve ablation thins the nerve around the knee to lessen pain
- Regenerative medicine, or orthobiologics, in which stem cells are injected into the joint to stimulate healing
Read more: Nonsurgical options for joint pain
What symptoms indicate a knee replacement might be best?
“Normally, I like to start with conservative options like over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications, therapy or injections. But when these non-operative options are no longer effective as they once were, it may be time to explore surgical options,” said Walters. “I like to use a three-question process if we’re looking at a knee replacement.”
Walters’ three questions are:
- Do you have pain you can’t stand, pain that hasn’t gone away with nonsurgical methods?
- Is this pain limiting your life so much you must moderate activities?
- Do you feel like your knee might buckle under your weight, maybe either stepping up or down?
A fall risk is nothing to dismiss. If you’re older, one fall can change your life. A joint replacement surgery will not just help you with pain, but also overall strength and longevity.
Schedule an Appointment
Avera Orthopedics clinics are located across the region and specialists travel to many more communities every month.
What are common concerns when considering a knee replacement?
According to Walters, one of the most common concerns is how long the recovery period is. It’s about one to two months before people are back at their regular activity levels. You are seen every couple weeks by your surgeon to check progress.
Also, infections are a natural concern; however, the risk is quite small at less than 1%. With any surgery, there’s a slight risk of complication or need for future surgery.
“Today, we have better, more precise techniques and technology,” said Walters. “Problems are rare. In fact, patients are often surprised when recovery isn’t as hard as they were anticipating.”
What are the benefits of surgery?
The main goal post-surgery is experiencing decreased knee pain. However, according to Walters, it goes beyond that.
“I like to use the ‘forgotten knee score’,” he said. “It’s when you return weeks later for follow up and you basically forget what knee you had surgery on.”
Walters strives to see his patients living a more active lifestyle after joint replacement, whether that’s doing the usual without pain or returning to favorite activities they never thought they could enjoy again.
Why choose Avera for knee replacement?
Avera providers pursue the latest technology and procedures to better serve patients. For example, Walters researched implant manufacturers that create stronger plastics to make joint replacements last longer. These plastics added antioxidants which slow the rate of oxidation, or breakdown.
Joint replacement surgery is often supported by 3D software and robotic technology to help plan and perform surgery. More precise incisions can improve recovery time.
“Before, a good knee replacement would last about 20 years,” said Walters. “This new plastic allows knee replacements to last about 30 or more years.”
Walters also lifts up the collaborative nature of the entire Avera Orthopedics team across the system. Whether it’s your knee, hip, shoulder, ankle — you are connected. Throughout the system, Avera orthopedic surgeons are experts in various operations, technologies and techniques; they will ensure you are seen by a highly trained provider in whatever treatment plan will be most effective for you.
