Is Knee Joint Replacement REALLY Necessary??
Rheumatoid arthritis is a condition that may be alleviated by knee joint replacement. This chronic inflammation of the joint lining causes pain, stiffness, and swelling. The inflamed lining can invade and damage bone and cartilage. It is not just adults that get rheumatoid arthritis, although it generally starts in middle age, but RA can also affect children and young adults.
Take this little quiz from the Mayo Clinic to see if you are a candidate for a knee joint replacement:
Arthritis pain quiz: Are you controlling your arthritis symptoms?
The decision to have the operation is a highly personal matter, and only you can make that decision. If you are confined to a wheelchair and in constant pain, it is a decision that will be quite easy for you to make, even though the operation (any operation) involves taking a certain amount of risk.
If your disability is great enough, the potential benefits are worth the risk. If your arthritis is responding to conservative measures, and you can still walk long distances without a cane, you don’t need a knee replacement.
The main arguments against waiting too long are:
The longer your arthritis forces you to “sit around” the softer your bones become, and the weaker your muscles.
[...] Living With Arthritis created an interesting post today on Arthritis Knee PainHere’s a short outlineIs Knee Joint Replacement REALLY Necessary?? Rheumatoid arthritis is a condition that may be alleviated by knee joint replacement. This chronic inflammation of the joint lining causes pain, stiffness, and swelling. The inflamed lining can invade and damage bone and cartilage. It is not just adults that get rheumatoid arthritis, although it generally starts in middle age, but RA can also affect children and young adults. Take this little quiz from the Mayo Clinic to see if you are a candidat [...]