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Getting your knee damaged by an injury or arthritis can cause the worst possible pain that can keep you up at night. Even the simplest tasks become a hassle when you feel pain while walking or even slightly moving your knee.

When everyday life becomes difficult, like climbing stairs, folding legs, or laying down, and when medicines and walking supports stop being helpful, you should consider your other option that might help with the pain.

We are talking about total knee replacement surgery, which is an effective way to give you back your pain-free life and correct any leg deformity that you might have, because who doesn’t want to have a normal life, right?

At Colorado Knee and Hip, we understand that going for a total knee replacement surgery is a big decision, and you might have some rightful reservations about it. And that is why we are here to tell you about some of its most valuable benefits.

Benefits of choosing total knee replacement

A bad knee can make you old before you actually get old. Your life comes to a halt because you can’t perform many tasks that people of your age can. Indeed, you shouldn’t get the surgery as soon as you start to feel pain in your knee. But, when you have tried everything else and still fail to cure it, it is time to consider knee surgery seriously.

Knee surgery can help you with many things. Here are some of its most important benefits:

Improve your mobility

Knee pain can really gives you a sense of disability because it hinders you from walking at longer distances (sometimes shorter distances too). Sometimes it even stops you from walking easily in your house or workplace. Since your physical activity goes from walking all the time to sitting for most of the time, you get used to an inactive life. An inactive life can lead to severe weight gain, sicknesses, and depression.

However, knee surgery can help you fight such situations. It will allow you to resume everyday activities like walking, climbing, running, or sitting on the floor. Surgery can especially be helpful if you are falling into despair.

Mental satisfaction

It is normal to feel worried about such a major surgery. But, you would be peaceful after knowing that total knee surgery has such a high success rate because of the medical advancement that there is an almost 95% surgery success chance.

95% of the patients who get knee surgery recover fully and are satisfied with their results.

Knee surgeries are not restricted to age or gender. Instead, it depends on the disability and pain of the patient. So, anyone can get the surgery for improved life quality.

Relief from pain

No human wants to feel pain deliberately; even a small thing like a paper cut can cause pain, and we flinch because of it, which is why we know the unimaginable pain a bad knee can cause. However, knee surgery can take a considerable amount of pain away from the one you feel daily while standing, walking, or even sitting.

A healthier treatment response

Arthritis or knee injury is not the only reasons to get total knee injury. Instead, you can get injured if you have swollen or inflamed knees that don’t get better even after prolonged medications, treatments, rest, cortisone injections, therapies, lubricating injections, or other methods.

Knee surgery has a better treatment response than all other treatment options like physical therapy, injections, and especially medications because medicines can cause harmful side effects on the body, addiction, and dependence on drugs that can affect the quality of your life.

The verdict

Improvement of your knee is the ultimate goal of the total knee replacement surgery, and that is what you will get after a successful injury. You will undoubtedly feel pain after surgery, but that pain won’t be worse than the one you have been feeling every day since your knee got hurt.

The surgery pain will go away after some time, and during that time, you will have to take good care of your knee. Once your knee recovers, you can return to your normal life and enjoy it to its fullest.

You might not know this, but the hip replacement has become a common procedure in the United States over the years. The surgery becoming a common practice has comforted patients because they know that their surgery will turn out successful as the durability of hip replacements has drastically improved.

While this news might be relaxing for those who are about to undergo surgery, you will undoubtedly have a ton of questions. If you can decide on what you should ask your hip surgeon, then worry not; we’ve shortlisted some of the most important questions that you should ask your hip specialist before undergoing surgery.

What is the best way to prepare for surgery?

Your hip surgeon might have some suggestions that can help you in speeding up the recovery time. For example, if you’re a regular smoker, then quitting or reducing it might positively impact your healing. Your surgeon might also suggest some exercises that will strengthen your upper body strength as it can improve your overall mobility on a walker or crutches, making it easier for you to move around.

And that’s not all; your surgeon can help you in several ways; he/she might suggest that you take the walker or crutches on a test drive, just to know how they work. If you’re still concerned about the aftermath of the surgery, the doctor might also connect you with a physical therapist to learn the suggested exercise before the surgery.

Lastly, your surgeon will tell you to make some changes to your house, especially your room. (If you’re willing to return home) This might involve removing tripping hazards like small pieces of furniture and moving the bed to a more continent location.

Are there any complications that I should know about?

With every surgical procedure, there are always some complications. Therefore, you should ask your doctor what kind of complications you might face. Some common complications include:

Change in leg length

A new hip means can make one leg a bit longer or shorter than the other due to the contracture of muscles that surround your hip. You can always ask your hip surgeon about different exercises that can help you in strengthening those muscles.

Blood clots

Blood clots can form in the veins of your leg after surgery. But, the problem occurs when the clot breaks off and travels to your brain, lungs, or heart. Your surgeon might recommend a blood-thinning medicine that might help in dissolving the clot altogether.

Fracture

Portions of your hip that are healthy might fracture during the surgery. These fractures are small, and they usually heal on their own. But if there are larger fractures, then you might need correction with pins or wires.

What long until I am completely recovered?

Recovery time varies from patient to patient. It is also dependent on different factors like overall health, age, etc. your hip doctor will give you an expected recovery time that will be based on these factors. It’s best to think of recovery as a two-step process – short-term recovery and long-term recovery.

If you’re looking for a highly skilled and talented hip preservation specialist in Denver, then you’ve come to the right place. Dr. Presley Swann is a fellowship-trained professional who will go the extra mile in taking away the pain from your life. Dr. Swann is trained in robotic, ACL-preserving partial and total knee replacement surgery in Denver! He is also a specialist in hip dysplasia surgery, hip resurfacing, and periacetabular osteotomy. Head over to his knee and hip preservation center or reach out to him over the phone, and he’ll make sure to help you in every way that’ll bring comfort to your life.

What is Total Hip Replacement surgery at Colorado Knee and Hip Preservation Center? First and foremost, hip replacement surgery is NO longer limited to the elderly. Hip replacement via Hip Preservation Specialist has become one of the most popular surgical procedures in the world. More than 330,000 patients undergo Total Hip Replacement each year. 

Return to Daily Mobility with Hip Replacement

It is now believed that the patient’s age is less important than the level of health and activity in general. Hip Doctors suggest undergoing surgery before the damage is severe has a better outcome. 

The most common is osteoarthritis. And can lead to bone-to-bone contact. Osteoarthritis patients may begin to notice pain or tenderness when walking, loss of flexibility, and stiffness, especially in the morning.

What is Total hip replacement?

Your hip joint is like a ball and socket. The two bones are separated by cartilage that acts as a cushion and allows movement. Located at the top end of the thigh bone (femur), where the bony hip (pelvis) joins is the femur’s head. This rounded bone fits into a socket in your pelvis, allowing you to twist, pivot, dance, or swing with a golf club.

In a hip replacement, diseased bone and cartilage are removed, and the head of the femur and socket (called the acetabulum) are replaced with artificial pieces. 

Total Hip Replacement Surgery- Reasons for Surgery

Total hip replacement surgery reasons are severe pain, loss of mobility, or deformity of the hip. Symptoms can be due to osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, trauma, or hip dysplasia, among others.

Osteoarthritis, commonly called “wear and tear,” is the most common cause of total hip replacement. In surgery, the damaged part of your hip will be removed and replaced with artificial components called prostheses. Our Hip Doctor will choose the best feature for your case.

Preparing For Surgery: What to bring to the Hip Preservation Center 

• Bring comfortable shoes, hopefully not to tie, to avoid having to bend over to connect them.
• Bring your walker or crutches as directed by the doctor.
• Bring pajamas and comfortable clothing, for example, a sweatshirt.
• Bring the antibacterial soap for the body bath in the Hospital.
• Bring a list of the medications you take.
• Bring the anti-embolic stockings, the triangle, and the antibacterial soap.

The Day Before Surgery:

• Don’t eat anything after midnight. Your stomach must be empty before you receive anesthesia.
• Take a bath the morning before surgery and use antibacterial soap from 2 days before surgery. This decreases the number of bacteria on the skin and can help reduce the risk of infection.

The Day Of Surgery:

• Arrive on time at the indicated time.
• Do not wear makeup or jewelry.
• Bring the anti-embolic stockings with you.

After Surgery:

• You will be transferred to the recovery room, and your family members will be notified. You will remain under observation until the medical staff decides that it is safe to go to the room.
• In some cases, a catheter will be placed in your bladder to drain urine for the first 24 hours after surgery.
• It is normal to feel some pain after surgery, and you will be given pain control medications.
• Respiratory therapy will be performed.
• You will need to use an abductor to help keep your legs apart, which is the safest position for your surgery. 
• To sleep, you must be placed on your back for 30 days after your surgery.

Physical Therapy:

• The day after surgery, you will have a physiotherapy session.
• Bring your walker or crutches to the Clinic as indicated by the doctor. These will be very useful in the physical therapy process. 
• The physiotherapy service will give you a sheet with exercise recommendations and safety instructions.

Opt for Total Hip Replacement Surgery at Colorado Knee and Hip Preservation Center

Our medical team, Hip Doctor, and Hip Preservation Specialist at the Preservation Center evaluate and explain the right option for you. It is essential to have realistic expectations. Although most patients experience decreased pain and increased mobility, they shouldn’t maintain or re-enter high-impact sports such as running or hockey.

The hip replacement does allow most participating patients pain-free walking, swimming, golfing, hiking, biking, or dancing. 

Discuss the details with our Hip Doctor before your surgery.  Our Hip doctor will tell you what movement and function you should be able to perform as you heal and recover from surgery.

Getting a partial or total knee replacement surgery is a huge step, and people often delay getting the surgery longer than they should. So, the question remains, when to get your knee surgery done? Honestly, that’s a question you and your knee replacement surgeon will have to decide together. But when knee pain alters your qulity of life, then you need to act on it before things get worse.

When to consider knee replacement surgery?

You can consider knee replacement surgery when non-surgical procedures such as physical therapy, injections, medication, and the use of a cane or other walking support no longer help you alleviate knee pain. There are other signs as well, such as constant pain, loss of mobility, and difficulty in rising from a sedentary position.

Here at the top signs that show you need knee replacement surgery done ASAP

Constant pain

It is common to suffer knee pain after sustaining a knee injury, but if the pain doesn’t go away after a few years and gets worse with every passing day, then you should start taking the matter more seriously. This constant pain will eventually start to get the best of you which will result in your dependence on pain relievers. Knee surgery can prove to be a healthy way of dealing with your knee pain without constant dependence on medication. 

Difficulty in movement

Walking is often taken for granted by most people but walking comfortably is a dream for people who suffer from chronic knee pain. When you feel that walking or standing is something that you’ve started to avoid, then you should consider knee surgery. Daily activities like walking your dog or walking to your mailbox could become tasks that’ll wear you out.

Nothing helps anymore

This is the biggest and most obvious indicator. If your medication, walking aid, or physical therapy has stopped relieving pain, then the most effective way alevate suffering is have knee replacement surgery.

You feel like sitting the whole day

You might not see it, but since you’ve had knee pain, you’re adopted a more sedentary lifestyle. You no longer enjoy walks or outdoor events; your perfect weekend retreat is lying on bed and watching your favorite TV shows. This will eventually have a tool on your health, you’ll start to develop obesity, and you’ll gain more weight, which in turn will further aggravate your knee pain.

Mentally, it is also taxing to be in constent discountfort. Do you find yourself snapping at others or being agitated because of your knee pain? Do you see a change in your behavior since the pain began?

Are you just sitting and watching people around you have a good time on the beach or in the park, but are just in too much pain to participate? If yes, then you should consider getting knee surgery.

Instability

An aching knee feels like it could buckle or crack at any time; this leaves you limping around. The problem only gets worse as you age. You will require a walking cane or other support aids to help you walk or stand. If this is the case, then you should consider your knee replacement surgeon and consider going for knee surgery. After running some tests, the doctor will identify that you need total or partial knee replacement surgery.

Dr. Presley Swann is here for you

 If you are looking for a knee doctor or a hip preservation specialist, then you’ve come to the right place. Dr. Presley Swann is a fellowship trained professional who will go the extra mile in taking away the pain from your life. Dr. Swann is trained in robotic, ACL-preserving partial and total knee replacement surgery in Denver! He is also a specialist in hip dysplasia surgery, hip resurfacing, and periacetabular osteotomy. Head over to his knee and hip preservation center or reach out to him over the phone, and he’ll make sure to help you in every way that’ll bring comfort to your life.

According to the American Osteopathic Association, one-third of people in the U.S have knee pain, and almost 60% of people refrain from telling their doctor about chronic pain.

Most people who suffer knee pain will probably consider getting a knee replacement surgery, but the aftermath of the surgery is something that makes them stop and think about the entire ordeal. If you’ve been feeling knee pain, then you might relate to the entire situation.

Questions that revolve around knee replacement surgery

You might also be worried about what would become of your knee after the surgery, the amount of time you’ll be away from work or family, what might be the complications or if you’re too old or young. Dr. Presley Swann is a skilled knee and hip orthopedic doctor who is here to tell that many of the arguments that go against knee replacement surgery are actually solid reasons to have the surgery.

Knee surgery will allow you to improve your performance and attendance at work, manage pain better while reducing complications like obesity and a sedentary lifestyle, and the best of all, it can be done at any age.

How can knee surgery help you – The benefits 

Relives chronic pain

The biggest and most significant reason to get knee replacement surgery is that it alleviates you from the excruciating pain you feel when you stand, walk, run, or when why you’re sitting straight or lying down. Most people go for knee surgery solely because they want to manage chronic pain.

 Gets you moving

When you don’t feel pain in your joints, then your movements are a lot better and painless. You’ll plan trips to the beach, more outdoor events because you can easily walk or dance if the occasion requires. And if you live in a huge house, you’ll feel that distances which felt endless are now covered in a short amount of time. Even light knee pain can easily interfere with your daily to-dos, and you can turn out having a bad day at work or at home.

And the biggest of all, people with chronic knee pain prefer a sedentary lifestyle, which results in ill health and weight gain, further damaging their knee joints.

Quick recovery time

People usually label knee replacement as their last resort, but that’s where they are wrong. Aggravated knee pain only makes things more difficult. By taking concentrated medications, you can only buy time, and that too only for so long.

At a point, the medicines might stop producing the desired effect, and you’ll be left helpless. This is where people resort to knee surgery. By this time, the knee has suffered considerable damage, and the surgery only gets more complicated. Dr. Swann recommends consulting a knee doctor or a knee replacement surgeon at the earliest because he is able to create a clinical timeline for either injections or physical therapy until sugery becomes the best option.

Using the same medication for a very long time can affect a particular part of your body which can cause further complications in your condition. You might also develop a physical dependence or addiction to the respective drug.

By going for partial or complete knee replacement surgery, you can reduce reliance on physical therapy sessions, regular medications, and other costly procedures. 

Is knee surgery right for you?

If you experience severe knee pain or joint stiffness that hinders you from completing your daily tasks such as climbing stairs, walking, or rising from a sedentary position, then getting knee surgery might be the thing for you.

Dr. Presley Swann is here to help you

 If you are looking for a knee doctor or a hip preservation specialist, then you’ve come to the right place. Dr. Presley Swann is a fellowhip trained professional who will go the extra mile in taking away the pain from your life. Dr. Swann is trained in robotic, ACL-preserving partial and total knee replacement surgery in Denver! He is also a specialist in hip dysplasia surgery, hip resurfacing, and periacetabular osteotomy. Head over to his knee and hip preservation center or reach out to him over the phone, and he’ll make sure to help you in every way that’ll bring comfort to your life.