Is Knee Replacement the Best Solution for Chronic Pain?

Explore whether knee replacement is the best solution for chronic knee pain, weighing alternatives, benefits, risks, and factors to think over before opting for surgery

Scores of people are affected by chronic knee pain. Though it affects their daily lives, movement and flexibility, most of them overlook the pain and continue suffering. Knee pain can be due to various reasons, and they include age-related wear and tear, injury, or medical conditions. However, continuing knee pain can make even walking or climbing stairs extremely painful and difficult. 

The first and foremost thing to do in the case of chronic knee pain is to approach an orthopaedic surgeon. The ortho specialist will check and diagnose the reason for your knee pain. While some cases may not require surgery, certain cases might require knee replacement surgery, to improve the lifestyle and mobility of the patient.  

Knee replacement surgery, or knee arthroplasty, is a procedure to get rid of chronic pain, especially arising out of conditions like osteoarthritis. Many patients feel significant relief and improved movement after surgery, the question remains- is knee replacement the best solution for chronic pain? This blog explores various outlooks on this. 

Substitutes to Knee Replacement

Patients need not have to worry that the moment they complain of knee pain, doctors will ask them to undergo knee replacement surgery. Before opting for surgery, doctors consider and try alternative treatments that may relieve chronic knee pain, which include:

1. Physiotherapy: Exercises targeted to the affected part is said to improve the muscles around the knee. This is expected to provide better support and less pain.

2. Injections: Corticosteroid injections or hyaluronic acid are prescribed for temporary relief by easing inflammation or oiling the joint.

3.Weight Reduction: Cutting down your weight can reduce the stress on the knees, and thus it will reduce pain without knee replacement.

4. Medications: Doctors prescribe medicines like ibuprofen to reduce pain and inflammation.

Choosing whether to do knee replacement in Chennai is a decision that the patient and the surgeon should take jointly. The important factors to consider include:

Severity of Pain: If chronic pain is severely affecting you daily life even after the above conservative treatments, surgery may be needed.

Age and Activity Level: Artificial joints are good for about 15-20 years and after that a revision surgery may be needed. In such cases, young patients should discuss the pros and cons of the knee replacement surgery in Chennai with their surgeon. 

General Health: The overall health and other comorbid conditions are evaluated before advising surgery s they may have a negative impact on the outcome of the knee replacement surgery in Chennai.

Understanding Knee Replacement Surgery

If any of the above are not working, surgeons may recommend knee replacement surgery. Knee replacement is the procedure of removing damaged bone and cartilage from the knee joint and changing them with artificial parts. Knee replacement surgeons in Chennai recommend this for patients suffering from severe knee pain that affects their day-today activities. Hence, it is considered as best treatment for knee pain. According to the American Joint Replacement Registry, knee replacements accounted for over 54% of nearly two million hip and knee surgeries performed between 2012 and 2020. 

Advantages of Knee Replacement Surgery in Chennai 

1. Pain Relief: The major benefit of knee replacement is reduction in pain. Many patients are able to return to their normal life and activities after the surgery as the knee replacement surgery offers them relief from pain. 

2. Better Mobility:  After knee replacement in Chennai, most patients say that their mobility has improved allowing them to lead to a more active lifestyle.

3. Long-Term Effect: Studies show that after surgery most patients are able to experience improved function and reduced pain for several years. 

Risks involved in knee replacement in Chennai 

Like any other surgery, knee replacement surgery also has the risk of infection, blood clots and complications that might come from the anaethesia. Total recovery after the surgery may take almost a year and patients will have to continue physiotherapy till then. Some patients may experience pain even after the surgery. 

Innovations in pain management

Healthcare is advancing at great speed and there are many new techniques that surgeons use for pain management after knee replacement surgery in Chennai

Intraosseous Infusion: Pain killers like morphine is injected into the bone during surgery to reduce pain.  

Personalized Follow-Up: Personalized follow-up care are offered by knee replacement surgeons in Chennai which is considered to improve patient outcomes through customised assessments treatment. Knee replacement in Chennai can be a good solution for chronic knee pain. It will offer benefits in pain relief and improve mobility. That said, it may not be the best option for everyone. Knee replacement surgeons will examine and diagnose the severity of the problem and explore all treatment options, including conservative methods and recent innovations in pain management. Knee replacement surgery is effective for many, and it offers a better and active life with reduced pain and increased movement.