Improving Your Life with Joint Replacement

IMPROVING YOUR LIFE WITH JOINT REPLACEMENT COMMON REASONS FOR HIP AND KNEE REPLACEMENT OSTEOARTHRITIS Cartilage at the ends of bones breaks down over time RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS Causes bones to rub together, resulting in pain and stiffness A disorder in which the immune system attacks the lining of the joints Causes pain and inflammation, and can eventually destroy the joint itself POST-TRAUMATIC ARTHRITIS A type of osteoarthritis that can develop after an injury Injuries in early life can lead to this type of arthritis later DEFORMITIES Structural deformities like bow legs put stress on the joints Joint replacement can help correct alignment and improve motion AVASCULAR NECROSIS A condition also known as osteonecrosis that causes bones to lose their blood supply Causes the bones to die and collapse, often necessitating joint replacement WHAT TO EXPECT FROM JOINT REPLACEMENT BEFORE Attend a consultation with your doctor to learn about the procedure Your doctor may recommend exercises to strengthen surrounding muscles DURING You'll be anesthetized so that you don't feel anything during surgery Surgery generally takes 1-2 hours, and you'll be monitored the whole time AFTER You'll only be allowed to move a little initially following surgery A physical therapist will teach yoU exercises to aid your recovery Physical therapy may be ongoing for the best possible recovery PROVIDED BY: BLAKE MEDICAL CENTER www.SOCIAL.BLAKEMEDICALCENTER.COM SOURCES: http://nihseniorhealth.gov/kneereplacement/whoneeds/01.html http://nihseniorhealth.gov/hipreplacement/whoneeds/01.html http://nihseniorhealth.gov/hipreplacement/preparingforsurgery/01.html http://nihseniorhealth.gov/hipreplacement/whattoexpectinrecovery/01.html http://nihseniorhealth.gov/hipreplacement/havingsurgery/01.html http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic-a00389