 |
 |
Change Text Size |  |
 |
Share this page |
Hip Pain
When To Consider Joint Replacement
When should I have a joint replacement?
When joint pain is severe and interferes with daily activities and work, joint replacement may be an option.
The pain from arthritis and joint degeneration can:
- Be constant or it can come and go
- Occur when an individual is moving or motionless for some time
- Be located in one spot or in many parts of your body
The pain and the stiffness of joint degeneration may be worse during certain times of the day, or after certain activities such as:
- Walking
- Climbing stairs
- Getting in and out of a chair
Individuals with arthritis may even feel uncomfortable or have pain while resting or sitting in a chair or lying down. They may be uncomfortable at night, and the pain may wake them up.
The pain of joint degeneration can limit many everyday activities, such as:
- Walking
- Bending
- Going up and down stairs
- Getting in and out of a car
- Getting dressed
- Sexual activities
Joint degeneration can eventually make it extremely difficult for individuals to work and enjoy themselves. It also can make it difficult for individuals to care for themselves. If medications, changing everyday activities, and the use of walking aids such as a cane are not helpful, joint replacement may be a treatment option.
In order to make informed treatment decisions, you will need to know:
- What treatment options exist
- Which of these options may be right for you
- What do these options really mean to you today
- What will these options mean to you in the future
The decision to have joint replacement surgery should involve:
- You
- Your primary-care physician
- Your orthopaedic surgeon
Once the orthopaedic surgeon determines that joint replacement surgery is a medical option for you, it is still up to you to make the final decision, based on your own assessment of pain and dysfunction.