Knee Replacement at Abrazo Orthopedic Specialists

If severe knee pain, caused by either arthritis or injury, keeps you from doing the things you love, it may be time to consider a knee replacement. In addition to chronic pain and stiffness, reasons for considering knee surgery can include trouble walking and climbing stairs — and even pain when you’re sitting or lying down.

At your first appointment with one of our experienced orthopedic knee doctors, he or she will review your overall medical history, physical symptoms, and images obtained from X-rays and/or MRIs. This will allow your knee specialist to create a customized treatment plan for you.

Why Consider Knee Replacement Surgery?

Before any sort of knee replacement surgery is considered, our orthopedic knee specialists will recommend nonsurgical treatments, such as medications, cortisone injections, physical therapy and walking supports. If those don’t help, knee surgery may be your best option. Knee surgery is designed to relieve pain from arthritis in your knee, help with degenerative joint disease or loss of cartilage or correct a leg deformity.

Common reasons for knee replacement surgery include damage to the knee (such as fractures, torn cartilage and/or torn ligaments) and degenerative joint disease. However, osteoarthritis in the knee is the main reason people receive a knee joint replacement. This condition is very common and occurs when the cartilage that cushions the bones of the knee softens and wears away. This causes the bones to rub against each other causing knee joint pain and stiffness.

Other forms of knee arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis or post-traumatic arthritis, that can occur from a knee injury may also prompt the need for knee replacement surgery.

What Are the Knee Replacement Options?

If your knee replacement surgeon determines that surgery is the best knee pain treatment for you, he or she may recommend total knee replacement surgery or arthroscopic knee replacement, which is a less-invasive procedure.

The major difference between knee arthroscopy and total knee replacement is that one preserves your natural knee joint and the other replaces the knee joint with a knee implant. The choice between the two surgeries will be determined based on the severity of the damage to your knee.

Regardless of which option is chosen, our knee replacement specialists will be with you every step of the way.

Find an orthopedic knee specialist at Abrazo Orthopedic Specialists Or
Call (480) 420-0749 today to make an appointment.

Sources:
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Arthritis Foundation