Many people have heard of or had a Friend, relative or acquaintance has a complete knee replacement. Just the name itself seems like a significant procedure and a significant change in lifestyle. Knowing what the surgery entails and what to expect with physical therapy can answer many questions and alleviate some of the tension and concern people might have.
The knee joint is formed by the tibia and the femur. The ends of each bone in the joint are covered with a smooth layer of cartilage. Joint are two cartilage pads as cushion known as the menisci acting. Cartilage and Regular menisci allows motion and nearly frictionless. When the cartilage is damaged, worn down, or diseased by arthritis, the joint becomes stiff, painful, and potential inflamed. If an arthritic joint is broken to the point of continuous pain or restricted movement the joint may be removed and replaced with an artificial joint, called prosthesis.
When is a total knee replacement necessary?
Prior to using a knee pain clinic in Singapore, conservative measures should be taken to attempt to alleviate the pain and enhance function. These measures could include pain free strengthening and range of motion exercises prescribed by a physical therapist, injections to decrease the redness or provide lubrication to the joint, or drugs provided by your doctor. If these measures do not alleviate your symptoms and x-rays reveal extensive damage to the joint, a replacement may be necessary.
You will need to be assessed by an Orthopaedic surgeon who would do the operation if justified. You do not need to wait too long where the pain is so intense you avoid using the joint and thus weakening the surrounding muscles making it difficult to move.
The Objective of a replacement is to Alleviate the pain in the joint due to the damaged cartilage and enhance function. The endings of the bones and cartilage are replaced with plastic and metal surfaces which are formed to restore knee movement and function.