Alternatives To Knee Replacement For Elderly

What Happens After Meniscal Transplant Surgery

Talk with your healthcare provider about what you can expect after your surgery. In some cases, you may be able to go home a few hours after your surgery. In other cases, you may need to stay overnight at the hospital for monitoring.

You may have some pain right after your surgery, but pain medicines may help to ease the pain. The pain should quickly begin to diminish, and you should have less pain than before your surgery.

After your surgery, you will probably need to wear a knee brace for a few weeks. You might also need to use crutches during this time. Your healthcare provider will give you instructions about how you can move your knee while you recover. You might need physical therapy for a few months to help you maintain your strength and range of motion. It may be several months before you can return to all your previous activities.

You may have some fluid draining from your incision, which is normal. Let your healthcare provider know right away if you see an increase in redness, swelling, or draining from your incision, or if you have a high fever, chills, or severe pain.

Make sure to keep all your follow-up appointments, so your healthcare provider can monitor your progress. Following all of your healthcare providers instructions may increase your chances for a positive outcome.

Suffering From Bad Knees Some Look For Alternatives To Surgery

The burning in his kneecaps was what Richard Bedard noticed first. Then came the tenderness and pain. Sitting for 10 hours a day as a financial editor in Hong Kong was agonizing. So was walking short distances or just standing in the elevator.

Neither doctors nor physical therapists could offer any lasting relief. Surgery loomed. But Bedard tried a different approach: a personal experiment to try to repair the cartilage in his knees with special exercises. It wasnt easy and it took more than a year to accomplish, but he sidestepped a knee operation.

Now, 10 years later, Bedard, 57, runs around with his young kids, climbs stairs and bikes up to 60 miles on weekends, all without pain. It was, all and all, a lengthy process, said Bedard, who has written an e-book about his successful effort to fix his knees without surgery. These days, he added, I still notice some burning in my knees when sitting, but for the most part, my knees feel really good.

Studies suggest about 1 in 4 adults suffer from chronic knee pain. The number of sore, swollen and stiff knees has risen 65 percent in the past four decades and the increase cant be explained by aging or obesity alone, according to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys and the Framingham Osteoarthritis study.

An Alternative To Knee Replacement Surgery Specifically For The Elderly

A convenient fast track knee replacement surgery alternative to the conventional procedure was attempted to reduce the post-operative trauma in a knee replacement surgery. A team of doctors headed by Neelam Ramana Reddy, joint replacement surgeon at Star Hospitals, has performed a FTKR surgery.

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How Long Does It Take A 70 Year Old To Recover From Knee Surgery

For the elderly, a total knee replacement will require about twelve weeks of recovery. To get around, you will most likely need crutches or a walker for the first two to three weeks. In the first four to six weeks, you should notice a significant reduction in swelling as well as a significant increase in movement ability.

Surgery for knee replacement is an effective treatment for both repairing and restoring function to the knee. Those over the age of 65 who suffer from swelling, stiffness, and pain that makes walking, standing, or climbing stairs difficult are considered candidates for a knee replacement. The sooner you know what to expect and what to do after surgery, the sooner you can begin to heal. Your knee surgery will almost certainly result in you being admitted to the hospital for up to a week. Compression stockings are frequently worn by patients after surgery to improve blood flow, and some require a urinary catheter for a few days afterwards. If you can get in and out of bed or a chair without assistance, you may be able to return to your bed. You could use the assistance of a family member or friend to complete an errand or drive you to a meeting.

Knee Replacement Can Be Reasonable Option Even For Older Adults

Dear Mayo Clinic:

I am 72 years old and need a knee replacement. Is this safe at my age? Will I be able to do the same activities after I have recovered from surgery?

Answer:

If you are otherwise in good health, knee replacement surgery can be a reasonable option for someone your age. It should only be used if other nonsurgical treatment approaches have not worked for your knee problems, though. As with any surgery, knee replacement does involve some risks. But for many people, this surgery offers a good opportunity to return to an active lifestyle.

Knee replacement surgery is most often used to repair joint damage caused by osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis that causes knee pain and makes it hard to do daily activities. During knee replacement, a surgeon cuts away the damaged bone and cartilage from your thighbone, shinbone and kneecap and replaces it with an artificial joint.

The number of knee replacements being done for people 65 and older in the United States has risen sharply, with the rate of these surgeries almost doubling in the past several decades. There are a variety of reasons for the increase.

Of course many of these people, like you, want to stay active into their later years, too. It’s not uncommon to see 80-year-olds and even 90-year-olds with symptomatic knee arthritis that they want treated, so they can return to their usual activities.

â Robert Trousdale, M.D., Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.

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Why Might I Need A Total Knee Replacement

You might need a total knee replacement if you have significant damage to your knee joint. Different types of medical conditions can damage this joint, such as:

• Injury or fracture of the knee joint

• Bone tumor in the knee joint

This damage might be very painful and limit your normal activities. The procedure may help decrease your pain, improve your joint mobility, and quality of life. Usually, healthcare providers only recommend total knee replacement when you still have significant problems after trying more conservative treatments, like pain medicines and corticosteroid shots .

Talk with your doctor about the benefits and risks of having minimally invasive total knee replacement instead of traditional total knee replacement. Minimally invasive total knee replacement uses a smaller incision than a traditional knee replacement, so it may lead to less pain and decreased recovery time. It is not yet clear whether the procedure leads to an increased risk of certain complications, though.

In some cases, you may have other surgical options, like shortening the bone or a partial knee replacement. Talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits of all your options.

Radiofrequency Ablation For Knee Pain

If all of these methods fail to control your knee pain from osteoarthritis, there are still options. Radiofrequency ablation controls pain in the knees by destroying the sensory nerves that carry the pain signal from the knee to the brain.

RFA is likely a temporary fix, as nerves will grow back in six months to two years, and the pain may return.

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Find Out If You Are A Candidate

More than 600,000 knee replacements are performed the United States yearly. These include patients that have spent years skiing hard, running marathons, walking golf courses or just suffering from chronic arthritis. Many of these surgeries can be avoided by alternatively undergoing a minimally invasive state-of-the-art stem cell procedure.

By opting for the stem cell route in Colorado and avoiding knee replacement surgery, you may have the potential to avoid the long painful recovery, weeks of missed work, and the potential surgical risks that include infection, bleeding, blood clots and nerve injury.

You may be an excellent candidate to undergo a low-risk stem cell procedure, which is carried out without general anesthesia, minimal postoperative discomfort and virtually no recovery downtime. In addition, stem cell patients are able to return to work in 1-2 days, and sports in 4-6 weeks.

Many knee surgeries can be avoided by alternatively undergoing a minimally invasive state-of-the-art stem cell procedure.

Stem Cells to Avoid Knee Replacement Patient Testimonial Individual patient results may vary. Please contact us today to find out if stem cell therapy may be able to help you.

Focus On Your Surgeon Not On The Device Or Technique

Newer technologies like computer navigation can help surgeons be more precise in how they position the implant components during knee replacement surgery. But theres a lot of information to sift through.

Between advertising, the internet and conversations with other people whove had knee replacements, you may have questions about your prosthesis and your surgeons technique.

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Exercise And Physical Therapy

Exercise and physical therapy may be prescribed to improve strength and flexibility. Exercises may include strengthening exercises such as riding a stationary bike and stretching exercises such as flexing the ankle up and down, tightening and holding thigh muscles, sliding the heel forward on the floor, leg lifts, and knee extensions.

Exercise can strengthen your leg muscles and reduce your pain. If you really need knee surgery, this may not help, but many forms of knee pain can be mitigated by exercise.

Living With A Knee Replacement

Are you asking, What can I expect after knee replacement surgery? Heres what to know about managing a knee replacement over the long term.

People want to know how long a knee replacement usually lasts. Its like asking how long a car lasts you have to look at probabilities, Wang said. He tells his patients its likely their implants will last 20 to 30 years.

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Knee Surgery Alternatives: Lifestyle Modification

The first alternative to knee surgery most physicians try is lifestyle modification. This may include weight loss, avoiding activities such as running and twisting which can aggravate the knee injury, modifying exercise to no- and low-impact, and other changes in your daily routine to reduce stress on your knee.

Do I Need A Knee Replacement

If your arthritis isnt responding to non-surgical treatments, you may consider undergoing knee replacement surgery. You mayneed a knee replacement if your knee gives you pain, stiffness, instability or loss of function that affects your daily life andactivities. Knee replacements are most common surgery for osteoarthritis.

If your symptoms are still manageable through conservative therapies and/or your medication is effective, then you may choose to notundergo surgery.

Your orthopaedic surgeon will be able to advise you on the surgical options and on the potential pros and cons of having or delayingsurgery, taking into account your age, health and level of activity.

Most people who have a knee replacement are over 60 years of age. If youre under the age of 50 and decide to go ahead with aknee replacement, then youre more likely to need a repeat operation in later life. However, there is evidence that the surgicaloutcome may be better if you dont wait until the knee becomes very stiff or deformed.

Unfortunately, some people may not be able to have a knee replacement even though their arthritis may be severe:

• If the thigh muscles are very weak they may not be able to support the new knee joint
• If there are deep or long lasting open sores in the skin below the knee the risk of infection may be too great to consider surgery.
• However, there may be other options available to help. This includes:
• Joint injections of Viscosupplementation agents

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What Is Total Joint Replacement

When someone talks about getting a hip or knee replacement, theyre probably referring to total joint replacement surgery.

Surgeons perform total joint replacements on many joints, but hips and knees are the most common. During total joint replacement, an orthopedic surgeon removes the damaged cartilage. Then, they replace the damaged sections of the joint with specialized metal, plastic or ceramic parts.

This surgery relieves symptoms of osteoarthritis , which is the most common type of arthritis. OA happens when the cartilage inside a joint breaks down. Cartilage is the smooth material that cushions your joints. When it wears down over time, it causes pain, swelling and stiffness.

The new joint allows you to move without the pain and stiffness of OA.

Whats The Cost Of A Knee Replacement Surgery

The cost varies. The average cost of knee replacement surgery with insurance in the U.S. will depend on your coverage, copays and deductible. A Blue Cross Blue Shield study found claims of just over $11,000 to almost $70,000, depending on where the surgery was performed.

Your surgeons office can work with you to calculate how much of the cost Medicare or your insurance company will cover and how much will fall to you.

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Stem Cells For Avoiding Arthroscopic Knee Surgery

The stem cell procedure for ACL tears can reduce the risk of future arthritic changes.

A minimally invasive stem cell procedure is often a better choice for you than many arthroscopic procedures. Partial ACL tears are an example of an acute injury that responds well to stem cell knee injections. By infiltrating the ligament of an intact ACL sheath, the ligament can heal to become as strong as the original ligament. This also avoids the traumatic surgery required to replace the ligament from a second surgical site, and the six months of postsurgical rehabilitation.

Many routine arthroscopic procedures can also be avoided by allowing your own cells to repair meniscus tears and other minor tissue damage in the joint. This holds true for treatment of many other joints including the hip, shoulder and lumbar discs.

Patient from Castle Rock, CO uses stem cell procedure to avoid a knee replacement. Patient Testimonial

Individual patient results may vary. Please contact us today to find out if stem cell therapy may be able to help you.

Returning to your favorite sport in a shorter time and with much less discomfort is unforgettable. Below is a testimonial from a Vail local who used stem cells to return to skiing. For more examples of what stem cell patients are saying, please visit stem cell reviews for joint pain.

*Individual patient results may vary. Contact us today to find out if stem cell therapy may be able to help you.

How Do I Get Ready For A Meniscal Transplant Surgery

Talk with your healthcare provider about how to prepare for your meniscal transplant surgery. Ask whether you should stop taking any medicines ahead of time, like blood thinners. Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including over-the-counter medicines like aspirin. Youll need to avoid food and drink after the midnight before your procedure.

Before your procedure, you may need additional imaging tests, like X-rays and magnetic resonance imaging .

You may need to rearrange your living arrangements as you recover because youll need to use crutches for several weeks.

You may be able to go home on the day of your surgery. Its also possible youll need to stay in the hospital for a day or two. Talk with your healthcare provider ahead of time so that you can make the necessary arrangements for your recovery period.

Before your surgery, a healthcare provider will carefully screen the donated meniscus for any signs of infection.

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Common Knee Surgery Alternatives A Doctor May Recommend

Most orthopedic surgeons are going to recommend knee replacement surgery to their patients. They feel that even the best alternatives to knee replacement are just temporary. Eventually, their patients will need to have a partial or total knee replacement.

And right now, surgeons are excited to recommend surgery because of the many advancements that make the procedure less time-consuming and more comfortable for the patients. AI and robotics scientists are producing incredible surgical tools and aids.

However, if a patient wants to avoid surgery or at least put it off a surgeon will likely recommend the following options.

Types Of Knee Replacements

Unicompartmental knee replacement

If arthritis only affects one side of your knee it may be possible to have a half-knee replacement . This surgery can be carried out through a smaller cut than a total kneereplacement, which may reduce recovery time. Partial knee replacement isnt recommended for everyone because you need to havestrong, healthy ligaments within your knee. This surgery is preferred for younger patients, who are more likely to need furthersurgery at some point, but it may be used in some older patients because it is a less stressful operation. The outcome of the surgery,however, depends on the type of arthritis and not the age of the patient.

Kneecap replacement

Its possible to replace just the under-surface of the kneecap and its groove if these are the only parts of your kneeaffected by arthritis. This is also called a patellofemoral replacement or patellofemoral joint arthroplasty. The operation has a slightly higher rate of failure than total knee replacement, usually caused by the arthritis progressing to other partsof the knee. However, the outcome of kneecap replacement can be good if the arthritis doesnt progress, and its a lessmajor operation offering speedier recovery times.

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