When Should I Get a Knee Replacement?

Knee replacement surgery can give you new life and the freedom to be as mobile as you once were. But the invasive procedure has risks that include infection and knee replacement failure. If you still have mild to moderate knee pain, call a vascular specialist in Brooklyn NY instead. Dr. George Bolotin at the Astra Vein & Fibroid Treatment Center is an experienced interventional radiologist who performs a remarkable new treatment called knee embolization. It’s minimally invasive and has been proving to be successful when performed by an expert. Don’t wait until your knee pain is excruciating. You may even be able to avoid surgery altogether by calling a prestigious vein clinic in Brooklyn.

What Is Knee Replacement Surgery?

When your knee joint becomes severely damaged from arthritis or injury, it causes intense pain and a reduced ability to walk, climb stairs or participate in ordinary daily activities. Knee replacement is a surgical procedure in which damaged cartilage and bone are replaced with metal and plastic implants to restore knee function and alignment.

Knee replacement is usually only recommended after other forms of treatment fail to provide pain relief. An effective alternative is knee embolization, a minimally invasive procedure that blocks blood supply to the lining of the knee, potentially delaying or eliminating the need for knee replacement. If you need a knowledgeable and experienced interventional radiologist and vein doctor in Brooklyn for knee embolization or other vein treatments, the best option is the vein center in Brooklyn at Astra Vein & Fibroid Treatment Center.

What Causes Chronic Knee Pain?

One of the most common causes of knee pain is arthritis, a term used to describe conditions characterized by joint inflammation that’s persistent and chronic. A variety of forms of arthritis can lead to chronic knee pain and stiffness, including:

• Osteoarthritis. Breakdown of the cartilage in the knee may happen to people as you get older because of wear and tear. This age-related form of arthritis is most common in people over the age of 50. It develops slowly, and the pain caused by this condition worsens over time.
• Rheumatoid arthritis. This is an autoimmune condition in which joints are affected on both sides of the body. It’s characterized by chronic inflammation of the membrane surrounding the joint leading to joint swelling and stiffness.
• Arthritis caused by trauma. A serious knee injury can damage bones, ligaments and cartilage leading to pain and limited functioning of the knee joint. The arthritis persists even after you’ve had the bones and soft tissue repaired.

When one or both knee joints are affected by arthritis, pain usually develops gradually and intensifies as time passes.

Other symptoms you may experience include:

• Difficulty bending or straightening the knee
• Knee feels weak or buckles
• Pain worsens with vigorous activity
• Pain is worse with weather changes
• Swelling and pain also may worsen after sitting or resting
• Knee makes cracking, clicking, popping or grinding noises
• Skin around your knee is red or warm

Knee pain from arthritis may come and go. As the condition progresses, pain becomes more constant. Your risk of developing arthritis increases if you’re obese, there’s a family history of arthritis or there’s repetitive stress or injury to your knee, such as from running or working in a demanding job that keeps you on your feet all day.

When Is It Time for a Knee Replacement?

More conservative forms of treatment are usually tried before your vascular specialist in Brooklyn recommends knee replacement.

Factors that indicate you may need a knee replacement include:

• Pain is interfering with your life. Your pain is almost constant, and it’s interfering with your ability to work, sleep or do everyday tasks. You may be unable to put weight on your knee.
• Nothing else is helping. You’ve tried physical therapy and medication, but your symptoms are getting worse and not better.
• Joints are damaged. Your leg bows in or out, or your knee joint has been severely damaged from an injury.
• Instability. The knee joint has become so unstable that it’s caused you to fall or fear falling.

To determine whether a knee replacement is right for you, your NYC doctor checks the range of motion, strength and stability of the knee joint. X-rays and other imaging tests help your doctor view the extent of your knee joint damage.

What Happens during a Knee Replacement?

If a knee replacement is the best option for you, your surgeon tells you how long before surgery you should stop eating and drinking.

Steps of a knee replacement include:

Anesthesia is administered, which may be general anesthesia to put you to sleep or you may just be numbed from the waist down.
Damaged bone and cartilage are removed.
The prosthetic knee joint and replacement parts are inserted.
The kneecap is reshaped to fit the prosthetic part if needed.

The procedure usually takes one to two hours, and you may have to stay in the hospital for a day or two. Knee replacements can be partial or total. In a partial knee replacement, only the damaged part of the knee is replaced. It may be two or three months before you can resume normal activities and up to a year before you fully recover. Factors affecting the length of your recovery include your age, your overall physical condition and how well you follow the instructions of your doctor and physical therapist.

What Should I Try before Knee Replacement?

Knee replacement is an invasive procedure with long recovery times and several potential complications such as infections, blood clots and reduced range of motion. If your pain isn’t severe, there are several other things to try before going forward with major surgery.

These include:

• Making lifestyle changes such as becoming more active, participating in regular exercise and losing weight if you’re overweight
• Taking anti-inflammatory medication as prescribed by your physician
• Relying on anti-rheumatic drugs to slow the progression of rheumatoid arthritis
• Sitting for cortisone injections
• Undergoing physical therapy

When none of these options relieve your knee pain, talk to a vascular specialist in Brooklyn to find out if knee embolization is a good option for you. Knee embolization may be able to provide pain relief and improved knee function without the need for traditional surgery at this time, especially if your pain is still at a low or moderate level.

For more information on knee embolization or varicose vein treatment in Brooklyn, contact Astra Vein & Fibroid Treatment Center. When you visit this vein clinic in Brooklyn, you can count on quality care, personalized attention and the most up-to-date treatment options.