What I Wish I Knew before Knee Replacement Surgery

You have options for treating knee pain. But many people follow the advice of their primary care doctor and opt for knee replacement surgery before learning all the facts. But alternative measures don’t require risk, long recovery times or physical therapy. Don’t jump into surgery without first visiting a vein clinic in Brooklyn to learn about knee embolization. It’s a new technique that’s proving widely successful for treating mild to moderate knee pain. At Astra Vein & Fibroid Treatment Center, you get expert treatment from an interventional radiologist, who explains all the options you have for getting rid of knee pain.

Is Knee Replacement Surgery My Only Option for Knee Pain Relief?

You have options for knee pain relief other than an invasive surgical procedure, especially in the early stages of knee arthritis. Before having knee replacement surgery, take the time to learn as much as you can about alternatives, such as lifestyle changes and knee embolization, a minimally invasive procedure that offers relief of knee pain without surgery.

Dr. George Bolotin is a highly experienced interventional radiologist and vascular specialist in Brooklyn, NY who is expert at performing this and other vein procedures. He’s the founder and director of Astra Vein & Fibroid Treatment Center, the best vein clinic in Brooklyn.

What Should I Consider before Getting Knee Replacement Surgery?

Pain, swelling and stiffness of the knee from arthritis or other causes can make it difficult to do ordinary activities such as walking, standing and climbing stairs. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of knee arthritis. It’s caused by wear and tear common in people over the age of 50. If your knee is severely damaged, your doctor may recommend knee replacement surgery.

When you’re experiencing severe knee pain, it can be hard to think about anything other than pain relief, but there are some things to think about before deciding to go through with knee replacement surgery, such as:

• Slow recovery. It takes much longer to recover from knee replacement surgery than you expect. You may need to rest at home for several weeks and it may take as long as a year to fully recover.
• Pain isn’t gone. When people decide to have a knee replacement, they’re usually anxious to experience pain relief. Knee replacement causes trauma to the knee, and it’s likely to be weeks and sometimes months before pain subsides.
• Physical therapy is imperative. You must plan to set time aside to go to physical therapy and to work hard to regain strength and flexibility.
• Medication side effects. Medication for pain management often has unpleasant side effects such as drowsiness, nausea, constipation and vomiting.

The amount of time needed to fully recover from knee replacement surgery depends on your age and your activity level before surgery. Knee replacement surgery can be effective at relieving pain and restoring mobility for people who have severe arthritis, but it’s major surgery and recovery takes a long time.

How Does Knee Embolization Compare to Knee Replacement Surgery?

Knee replacement is an invasive procedure, and you may want to consider alternatives if your arthritis isn’t yet severe. When knee replacement is done too early, revision surgery may be needed 10 to 20 years later.

Comparisons between knee replacement and knee embolization include:

• Hospital stay. You may have to stay in the hospital one to three days for knee replacement surgery, while knee embolization is an outpatient procedure that doesn’t require a hospital stay.
• Recovery time. Recovery from knee embolization is much shorter than from knee replacement surgery. You should be able to return to light activities within a week after knee embolization rather than taking six weeks or longer after knee replacement.
• Complications. There’s a risk of many more potential complications with knee replacement surgery, such as infection and blood clots. Complications of knee embolization are usually minor such as swelling or skin discoloration, and the likelihood of complications is very low when you go to a top vein specialist in Brooklyn such as Dr. Bolotin.

After knee embolization, you may experience pain relief within a couple of weeks after surgery along with improved knee function and range of motion. After a knee replacement, you may have to continue to manage pain for several months or longer.

How Does Knee Embolization Work?

Knee embolization relieves pain and inflammation by blocking the blood supply to the lining of the knee joint.

Steps of this minimally invasive outpatient procedure include:

1. Moderate sedation is administered through an IV.
2. A small tube is inserted into an artery in the thigh.
3. Live x-rays are used to guide your vein doctor in Brooklyn.
4. The tube is maneuvered through the arteries to the specific blood vessels that supply blood to the inflamed knee.
5. Small particles are injected to stop blood flow to the synovium of the knee.

The procedure takes one to two hours, and after remaining in recovery at the vein center in Brooklyn for an hour or two, people typically go home the same day. There may be some slight bruising for the first few days after the procedure is done, but discomfort should be manageable using over-the-counter medication.

Knee replacement surgery is a much more complicated procedure, and the decision to have a knee replacement should be made only after exhausting all other options for relieving your knee pain. This type of surgery involves removing bone and cartilage from the knee joint and replacing it with an artificial joint.

Am I a Good Candidate for Knee Embolization?

Knee replacement may be a good choice if your arthritis is debilitating, but if you have osteoarthritis that doesn’t severely impact your quality of life or limit your daily activities, it may not be time to consider aggressive intervention.

Knee embolization offers an alternative that means you don’t have to continue to suffer with knee pain and may be a better option for you if:

• Knee pain is moderate to severe.
• You’ve had little or no improvement from medication or steroid injections.
• You want a quick recovery and want to avoid major surgery.

If you’re looking for a Brooklyn vein center where you can obtain top-notch care for knee pain, contact Astra Vein & Fibroid Treatment Center. They also treat varicose veins, fibroids, hemorrhoids, peripheral artery disease and other vein conditions.