When is it Time for Joint Replacement?
According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, approximately one million Americans get joint replacement each year for one simple reason — they’re sick of pain!
Pain affects everyone differently, so we understand that deciding on whether surgery is the right option for you isn’t an easy choice – so we laid out a couple of options for you to consider before joint replacement.
Non-surgical Treatment Options for Joint Pain
Some people experience pain for years before opting for surgery. If you haven’t been to a physician for your joint pain, maybe now is the time. If joint pain is controlling your life, you can make an appointment with OrthoNY easily online.
Before deciding on surgery, there are a number of recommended non-surgical treatments to help manage pain*, including:
- Over-the-counter medications
- Common medications are aspirin-free pain relievers, anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids, disease modifiers, and sleep medications.
- Heat / cold therapies
- Using heat or cold on the joints can provide short-term relief for stiffness and pain. Which therapy you use depends on the type of pain you’re experiencing.
- Weight management
- Extra weight can put even more stress on your joints. Being a healthy weight can help provide some relief and limit the strain on the joints.
- Injections
- Injections can be used to provide temporary pain relief for people suffering from joint pain.
- Physical therapy
- Physical therapists can help patients come up with an exercise and treatment plan to manage pain.
- Light exercise
- Low-impact exercise can help people with joint pain improve their strength and flexibility.
When is Joint Replacement the Answer?
It’s important to carefully evaluate the pros and cons with your orthopedic doctor before choosing joint replacement surgery. If you’ve tried multiple non-surgical treatments, a surgeon will start leaning towards joint replacement. When the pain becomes unbearable, you’ll know it’s time to call OrthoNY to schedule your surgery. Our trained team of physicians & orthopedic surgeons will give you the advice and care you’ll need before, during, and after surgery.
Contact us at (518) 489-2663 if you’re experiencing joint pain.
*The information on this website cannot replace the advice of a doctor. This article is only provided for general education purposes. Consult a doctor before making any changes in diet or medication.