Is a knee replacement right for me?

If you are struggling to do the things you love due to pain in your knee, you might need to consider a knee replacement to get you moving again.
A knee replacement can be used to treat degeneration due to a range of conditions, including:

• Severe osteoarthritis;
• Rheumatoid arthritis;
• Previous ligament damage or infection resulting in severe osteoarthritis;
• Injuries to the knee, such as fractures, torn cartilage, and/or torn ligaments (including ACL ruptures);
• Crystal deposition diseases, such as gout; and
• Bone growth disorders.

If your knee is causing you pain and is holding you back from doing the things you love, you should consider speaking to a doctor about your treatment options. Depending on your age, the work you perform, the sport activities you participate in and the extent of your injury, your doctor might recommend that you undergo an intensive period of physiotherapy, make modifications to your lifestyle, take medication or loose weight.

However, if your condition or injury is more serious or if it has not responded effectively to other treatment methods, your doctor might recommend you have a knee replacement to get you back to doing the things you enjoy, pain-free. This decision will be made in consultation with your doctor and will be dependent on any medical conditions you might have as well as your overall health.

It may be time to have a knee replacement if you are experiencing:

• Severe pain that is limiting you from doing the daily things you enjoy;
• Pain during the day and night while resting;
• Inflammation and swelling that hasn’t improved with medication;
• Knee stiffness; or
• Pain despite the use of pain relieving medications.

The important thing to remember is that delaying a necessary knee replacement could result in a less favourable outcome and increased immobility and pain in your knee joint.

To help you understand how a knee replacement works, one of Newcastle and the Hunter Valley’s top Orthopaedic Surgeons, Dr Stuart MacKenzie has created a free guide on knee surgery.