[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2020\/08\/joint-replacement\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2020\/08\/joint-replacement\/","headline":"Joint Replacement: Your Pressing Questions Answered","name":"Joint Replacement: Your Pressing Questions Answered","description":"If you\u2019ve been experiencing pain, stiffness, or a grinding feeling in your hips or knees, you may be a good candidate for joint replacement.\u00a0\u00a0 Brian Klatt, MD, assistant professor of orthopaedic surgery at the University of Pittsburgh Division of Joint Reconstruction, said it\u2019s worthwhile to explore this option sooner rather than later: \u201cWith joint surgery, […]","datePublished":"2020-08-27","dateModified":"2021-10-08","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/orthopaedics-regions","name":"UPMC Orthopaedic Care","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/orthopaedics-regions","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/orthopaedic-surgery\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/iStock-1136089250.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/iStock-1136089250.jpg","height":325,"width":754},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2020\/08\/joint-replacement\/","about":["Health Topics A-Z","Orthopaedics"],"wordCount":440,"articleBody":"If you\u2019ve been experiencing pain, stiffness, or a grinding feeling in your hips or knees, you may be a good candidate for joint replacement.\u00a0\u00a0Brian Klatt, MD, assistant professor of orthopaedic surgery at the University of Pittsburgh Division of Joint Reconstruction, said it\u2019s worthwhile to explore this option sooner rather than later: \u201cWith joint surgery, it\u2019s exciting to see people\u2019s lives changed so positively.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0Who Should Consider Joint Replacement?\u00a0Joint pain doesn’t always require a surgical solution. If you’re feeling that stiff soreness or grinding sensation common to both\u00a0osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, you should discuss your options with your doctor.\u00a0Before turning to surgery, Dr. Klatt says, “we’ll take conservative measures to treat people,” including medications, physical therapy,\u00a0injections, and bracing. If the symptoms don’t improve, though, you may want to consider surgery.\u00a0What Does Joint Replacement Entail?\u00a0Hip and knee replacements are relatively straightforward procedures. In a hip replacement, surgeons replace the ball and socket of the hip with various forms of metal, ceramic, and plastic. In a knee replacement, surgeons remove arthritic surfaces and resurface the knee with metal and plastic components.\u00a0What Is the Recovery Process for Joint Replacement?\u00a0The good news is that\u00a0recovery from knee or hip replacement\u00a0surgery is usually mild, especially compared to living with the pain of a condition like arthritis.\u00a0\u00a0Recovery from a hip replacement can take around 6 to 8 weeks, while recovery from a knee replacement can take closer to three months. Dr. Klatt notes that recovery time also depends on the severity of the arthritis and emphasizes that\u00a0post-surgery physical therapy\u00a0is critical “to make sure you heal quickly and function well with your new joint.”\u00a0Who Is a Good Candidate for Joint Replacement?\u00a0You may be a good candidate for the surgery if you have:\u00a0Arthritis\u00a0Chronic joint pain\u00a0Loss of joint function\u00a0A traumatic joint injury\u00a0Certain bone defects or bone cancer\u00a0Older people generally make better candidates, as younger, more active people tend to wear out artificial joints sooner.\u00a0Dr. Klatt adds that if you’re considering surgery, you should make sure you’ve addressed factors that could increase the risk of infection or complications, such as obesity, a sedentary lifestyle, and smoking. “People are surprised to find we don’t do a hip or knee replacement on someone who smokes.” But your medical team is there to help you conquer those lifestyle challenges too, Dr. Klatt notes. “If you have a problem, it’s our problem.”\u00a0To learn more about your joint replacement options, visit\u00a0UPMC Orthopaedic Care\u00a0or call\u00a01-866-987-6784\u00a0to make an appointment.\u00a0"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2020","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2020\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"08","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2020\/\/08\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Joint Replacement: Your Pressing Questions Answered","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2020\/08\/joint-replacement\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]