What is joint replacement?

The mere thought of joint replacement surgery can be scary. However, there is nothing to fear about this procedure since it is now a very common service offered by orthopedic surgeons.

Today, more and more people are wanting to become active... even in their old age. You will notice this in gyms, tennis courts, ski resorts, and parks where more people in their 40s are now active in. Unfortunately, as a person becomes older, the body can no longer perform as well as it used to and recovery from injuries becomes more difficult. For older people trying to be more active, then, tend to overuse the body. This leads to injuries on joints, which can be extremely painful.

Joint replacement surgery is not the first option when it comes to painful joints. Most of the time, orthopedic doctors will recommend medications or physical therapy. However, if these do not work, then patients will have to go through joint replacement.

During this procedure, orthopedic surgeons remove damaged parts of the joints and replace those parts with man-made materials. The materials used are made to help the joint function like normal. Joint replacement can last up to a decade and will relieve patients from joint pain in this duration.

To know more about joint replacement and if it is the best option for you, talk to an orthopedic surgeon.