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Joint and knee pain is prevalent worldwide and significantly impacts patient’s daily activities and quality of life. Many people, especially older people, suffer from chronic knee pain.
Studies constantly indicate the rising cases of joint and knee disorders, specifically osteoarthritis, in Pakistan. What starts as occasional discomfort and pain in joints becomes your constant companion.
Fortunately, advanced treatment solutions are available for joint disorders. One of the treatment options is knee replacement surgery. However, recognizing the signs that you need knee replacement surgery is also important to maintain orthopedic health.
Dr. Ahmed Shoaib has helped many patients resume their active lifestyle with knee replacement surgery at Orthocenter. He holds extensive surgical experience and international training and is recognized as one of the skilled orthopedic surgeons in Pakistan. His patients praise him for his professionalism and successful treatment results.
This article will explore the 10 signs you might need a knee replacement to help those suffering from severe knee pain gain a clearer understanding.
Knee replacement or knee arthroplasty is a surgical procedure where the damaged knee joint is replaced with artificial implants. It is the most preferred procedure for joint disorders. This procedure is generally ideal for patients suffering from arthritis and joint conditions that damage bones.
The following are the primary signs that you need knee replacement surgery:
Knee pain that interferes with basic daily tasks indicates you may need knee replacement surgery. This type of chronic knee pain before surgery generally worsens throughout the day.
Many patients describe this as deep, aching pain that never goes away. Simple activities like walking a few steps become challenging. Morning stiffness also accompanies this severe knee discomfort. However, if the pain does not improve with rest and medications, then it is a clear sign that you need surgery.
One of the significant signs of chronic knee pain is that it intensifies during weather changes and increased levels of activity. Knee arthritis symptoms also become clearer when patients climb stairs and stand for a longer time.
This chronic pain also disturbs the patient’s sleep cycle. They can’t sleep peacefully due to the throbbing pain. Traditional treatment methods like physical therapy show slight improvement after several months. Hence, it is not a practical choice for every patient.
Moreover, anti-inflammatory medications only give temporary relief. In this scenario, knee replacement surgery is a final alternative for you. Without surgery, your life is only controlled by pain.
Knee joint stiffness symptoms develop gradually, but if ignored, reach a point where they restrict mobility completely. Stiffness that lasts more than an hour often signals a severe joint degeneration.
The main symptoms of knee stiffness are when you can’t straighten or bend your knee. But many people also experience stiffness after sitting for too long. Therefore, one should wait, and if the stiffness persists daily, then they should immediately visit a doctor for timely management.
Stretching exercises are recommended, but they don’t restore the full range of motion. Knee replacement surgery is the only option for patients. Don’t wait; consult with an orthopedic specialist. Waiting will only impact your mobility.
Knee joint damage signs include visible bumps or irregularities around the joint. Knee deformity symptoms particularly become visible when the joint deteriorates and reaches the advanced stage.
Your knee may appear bowed inward or outward compared with its previous position. These structural changes highly affect the walking pattern. Swelling around the knee joint creates visible enlargement that persists despite treatment efforts.
The kneecap may shift or misalign compared to your other leg. Your leg alignment changes your entire lower body mechanics and balance. Conservative treatments can’t reverse these structural changes. However, a knee replacement surgery can restore your joint anatomy. The surgery will prove to be an effective and long-term solution.
Knee crepitus refers to the grinding noise when you bend or straighten your knee. The crackling sounds are from rough cartilage surfaces rubbing together. Others can sometimes hear these noises when you move your knee. Clicking sounds occur with simple activities like standing up from a chair. It’s normal, and you hear these sounds sometimes.
However, with severe cartilage loss, these sounds get worse, indicating joint deterioration. And the grinding becomes painful, not just noise. Your knee then makes these sounds with every weight-bearing activity.
Injections don’t help much in reducing these mechanical sounds. Anti-inflammatory medications also can’t restore smooth cartilage surfaces once damaged. Knee crepitus is one of the major signs that you need knee replacement surgery.
Knee locking is the condition where your knee just freezes and you can’t move it. It generally occurs when loose cartilage or bone fragments hinder normal joint movement. Treatment is required to restore the movement.
If these locking episodes get more frequent over time, it is an indicator of the internal joint damage that needs surgical intervention. Moreover, traditional treatment methods are not effective. They only cause the problem to get worse as joint damage progresses.
Dr. Ahmed Shoaib at Orthocenter can help you restore your joint function with a minimally invasive knee replacement procedure. Consult with him if you are experiencing frequent knee locking. This numbing sensation is dangerous if you let it be.
Chronic knee inflammation is also one of the signs that you need knee replacement surgery. However, it doesn’t go away with just anti-inflammatory drugs and proper rest, and one requires surgical intervention.
With inflammation, your knee appears puffy and swollen. Ice packs are a good option for temporary relief to reduce swelling. Persistent joint swelling signs mean that the problem cannot be ignored, and you need to consult with a specialist.
Doctors also advise compression garments to reduce inflammation, but they deliver minimal benefits. To fix the underlying damage causing the persistent inflammation, knee replacement surgery is the only effective option.
Knee pain wakes you up multiple times every night.. The pain gets worse when you lie down and try to rest. You need multiple pillows around your knee to get comfortable. And you change positions throughout the night to get relief. You feel exhausted in the morning because of inadequate sleep.
Are you experiencing these symptoms? If your answer is yes, then sleep disturbance due to knee pain is one of the significant symptoms signalling that you need knee replacement surgery. Visit a skilled orthopedic doctor to find lasting relief.
Arthritis causes damage to the joints. The treatment of patients with severe arthritis requires knee replacement surgery. Arthritis progression makes what used to be easy activities impossible to do. Walking short distances requires frequent rest breaks because of joint stiffness and pain.
Arthritis takes away your active lifestyle. Morning arthritis stiffness lasts several hours before it gets a little better. Moreover, your joints are swollen and tender every day. Arthritis also causes visible deformity that affects your leg alignment and function.
You avoid certain movements that trigger intense joint pain. This condition slowly takes away your independence and confidence. Only knee replacement surgery can give you long-term relief from arthritis. So, schedule your surgery with an experienced orthopedic surgeon as soon as possible.
Conventional treatment methods for joint disorders include medications, ice compression, massage, and heat therapy. However, if patients are suffering from an extreme condition, like arthritis, then these conventional treatments don’t yield successful results.
Moreover, prescribed medication for pain relief also loses effectiveness with time. Traditional methods have numerous drawbacks and don’t yield successful outcomes for all joint-related conditions.
When traditional methods prove to be ineffective, knee replacement surgery becomes the only solution. It is considered the gold standard when all other medical options have been tried but proven insufficient.
Knee pain significantly impacts mental health as patients feel sad and hopeless about the situation. Suffering from pain daily leads to emotional exhaustion and depression.
Patients also struggle with grumpiness, mood swings, and sadness.. Sleep troubles from pain lead to anxiety and emotional instability all day. Your mental health suffers as much as your physical condition with joint problems.
Counseling and antidepressant medications address symptoms but can’t get rid of the underlying pain. And your quality of life continues to decline despite psychological interventions. A permanent treatment requires surgical intervention and will also boost your mental health.
Knee replacement surgery offers the following advantages:
We provide quality orthopedic care at the orthopedic clinic in Lahore. Our orthopedic specialist, Dr. Ahmed Shoaib, specializes in knee replacement surgery and employs minimally invasive procedures for faster recovery.
If you are still confused about whether surgery is necessary for your condition, Dr. Ahmed Shoaib can help you. His expert opinion and guidance can help you make a conscious decision about the treatment. He evaluates the person thoroughly with physical examination and then provides the most appropriate treatment for them.
So don’t wait if you are having any of the symptoms mentioned in this article. Visit Dr. Ahmed Shoaib and achieve personalized treatment plans for successful outcomes. Thousands of patients have trusted his skills and are now enjoying good joint health. Trust us and take a step forward towards a healthier future.
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