Joint replacement surgery has come a long way since the 1960's. We are now more comfortable successfully replacing younger and more active patients' joints as our implants have improved over time. About 95% of patients are still doing well with their implants 15 years after surgery. I evaluate each patient to see whether a partial or a full replacement is necessary to decrease their pain and improve their function. I attempt to replace only the part of the joint that is worn out, if possible.
You will make the decision to have your joint replaced when your pain and function are not to your liking. It is all about your quality of life and being able to do those activities that are important to you. If non-surgical treatments are no longer helping you and you are frustrated that you can't do those things that are important to you because of your painful hip or knee, then you should consider joint replacement surgery.
I require all of my patients to have a body mass index (BMI) of less than 36 prior to surgery, to decrease the risk of complications and infection. You can calculate your BMI on my website. Also, avoid taking narcotic pain pills before surgery. If you develop a tolerance to pain pills before surgery, then we will not be able to control your pain very well after surgery and your result could be compromised because you will not be able to do your therapy because of the pain. The best outcomes and the best care is what I strive to provide for my patients.
Returning to Activities Following Surgery
Resumption of normal activities after joint replacement is highly dependent on the individual patient. I allow everyone to go at their own speed depending on how they feel. The first 2 weeks are the most difficult.
General guidelines are that around 3 weeks after surgery, most patients are driving a car and using a cane to walk. Most people are able to return to a sedentary type of job at 5 weeks and a more physically demanding job at 8 weeks after surgery. You can work from home whenever you feel like it.
Your leg will be swollen after surgery so I restrict your travel to within 2 hours of home for the first month after surgery in order to decrease the risk of developing a blood clot in your leg. Many patients get back to activities such as walking for exercise, swimming, riding a bike, and golfing by 6 - 8 weeks after surgery even though they still have some discomfort, increased warmth and increased swelling. You will fatigue easily and will not sleep well for the first 4 weeks after surgery, but this will improve with time. I encourage you to increase your activities as you can tolerate. Don't be afraid to push yourself. I ask my patients to avoid running and jumping activities after surgery as this can cause the implant to prematurely fail.
