When you hear about knee replacement, most people immediately balk at the idea of having their joint cut out, and if the replacement joint doesn’t fit, how can you live with it in the future? Professor Wang Zimin, Deputy Director of the Department of Joint and Orthopedic Surgery at Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, told us that knee replacement is not as scary as it sounds, as it only replaces one layer of the joint surface.
Replacing a knee joint is like having a tooth.
In normal people, the knee joint has a cushion of cartilage that protects it with cushioning and lubrication. As people age, this protective cushion gradually wears away and falls off. Once this layer of cartilage is worn away, it cannot be regenerated, which is like a tooth that has fallen out, it is impossible to grow new teeth again with any medicine. When the cartilage on the surface of the joint wears out and degenerates, the knee joint will move as if the bones are grinding against the bones, and people will experience joint instability, bone spurs, and pain when walking up and down stairs.
Professor Wang Zimin gave us an analogy of artificial knee replacement surgery, which is like putting a crown on the outside of a broken tooth. This is what is known as a “joint replacement” and is known medically as an artificial knee surface replacement.
However, not everyone is a good candidate for knee replacement surgery, and Prof. Wang Zimin told us that he often has patients in his clinic who must have a knee replacement, and that the decision should be made after a comprehensive analysis. Generally speaking, if a patient has the following conditions, then artificial knee replacement surgery is more effective.
1. Severe joint pain that affects your daily life, with severe pain in the joint after walking less than 500 meters on a flat road.
2.Continuous, day and night knee pain that cannot be relieved by rest.
3.Joint deformity.
4.The joint is stiff and cannot be bent or straightened.
5. Intolerance to the side effects of pain medications and ineffectiveness of other treatments such as joint cavity injections, physical therapy or other non-surgical treatments.
However, it is important to note that the replacement of artificial joints does not mean that you can rest easy. Artificial joints are, after all, prosthetic joints and have a life expectancy. After joint replacement surgery, the load of daily life is fully tolerable, but it is not recommended to engage in high-intensity, high-load sports and work, which can shorten the life of the artificial joint. Generally speaking, 90% of the joints can have a service life of more than 20 years if they are installed accurately and used properly.
Professional rehabilitation after surgery is also important
When it comes to surgery, many people are still concerned about the risks involved. It is true that any surgical procedure carries risks, but with the development and advancement of modern medical technology, the incidence of various post-operative complications is being reduced through the tacit cooperation between surgeons and anesthesiologists, as well as the application of modern medical devices. Professor Wang Zimin encourages patients to take the risks of surgery seriously and not to be overly frightened, let alone give up the treatment.
Especially after surgery, it is especially important to perform rehabilitation exercises under the guidance of doctors. While performing rehabilitation exercises, it is also necessary to pay attention to these matters.
1.Appropriate rest and exercise, gradually increase your activity, avoid too much strain, have a moderate amount of rest after exercise, and let the joints relax as much as possible in a normal posture;
2, maintain the ideal weight to reduce the burden on the knee joint;
3, Daily activities should avoid excessive burden on the knee joint to reduce the chance of joint wear;
4.After knee surgery, avoid squatting, climbing, running, lifting heavy objects, and walking long distances;
5. Observe the activity restrictions given by the physician until the next follow-up appointment;
6. Six months after surgery, you can swim, ride a bicycle and return to normal life;
7.After the surgery, we should take pictures every 1-2 years to keep the data for review and comparison.
In conclusion, when you decide to undergo surgery, choosing a hospital with strong technical strength and an experienced surgeon will undoubtedly bring you better surgical results and post-operative recovery experience.