[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2021\/01\/do-you-need-joint-replacement\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2021\/01\/do-you-need-joint-replacement\/","headline":"Do You Need Joint Replacement Surgery?","name":"Do You Need Joint Replacement Surgery?","description":"Joint replacement surgery can relieve pain and improve quality of life, but it's not for everyone. Here's what you need to know.","datePublished":"2021-01-29","dateModified":"2022-06-02","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\/10\/iStock-1145121597.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/iStock-1145121597.jpg","height":325,"width":754},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2021\/01\/do-you-need-joint-replacement\/","about":["Health Topics A-Z","Orthopaedics"],"wordCount":914,"articleBody":"Is pain from stiff knees or sore hips keeping you up at night? Chronic pain doesn’t have to be a daily part of life, and joint replacement surgery is one possible solution. Here’s what you need to know about the procedure, recovery, and outcomes.Do I Need Joint Replacement Surgery?Joint replacement surgery may be helpful for those with serious knee and hip pain. Surgeons perform more than 600,000 knee replacements and 300,000 total hip replacements in the United States each year.Your doctor may recommend surgery if you have a severe fracture, bone cancer, osteoarthritis, or rheumatoid arthritis, or if your condition hasn’t responded to less invasive treatments like:Braces or other supportsAnti-inflammatory medicines, such as ibuprofen or naproxenHeat and iceCorticosteroid, hyaluronic acid, or platelet-rich plasma joint injectionsPhysical therapyThese treatments can provide temporary relief, but they don’t solve the underlying cause of the problem. According to James DeLullo, MD, of the UPMC Hamot Orthopaedic Institute, once the pain is severe enough to keep you up at night, surgery might be the answer.Am I Too Old or Too Young For Joint Replacement?Age isn’t always the deciding factor for joint replacement. Your doctor will consider factors like chronic conditions, weight, and past surgical complications. \u201cWe see patients in their 60s who are not candidates for surgery because of their health, but we also see patients in their 80s who are actually really good candidates,” says Dr. DeLullo.\u201cWe have the capabilities of offering minimally invasive techniques for reconstructing patients\u2019 hips, as well as knees, depending on what their injury is,\u201d says Mark Gardner, DO, an orthopedic surgeon with UPMC Horizon.\u00a0\u00a0Most people are candidates for this minimally invasive procedure, he says, which involves smaller incisions and less injury to the patient’s muscular structures. It also allows the patient a faster recovery time and shorter hospital stay.What Happens During Surgery?If you and your doctor decide surgery is the right choice, you’ll receive some prep instructions. You might get preoperative exercises to build the muscles that will help you recover. Your doctor will let you know ahead of time when to stop eating and drinking before the surgery.On the day of your surgery, a member of the anesthesia team will administer medicine to make you relax and to numb the joint. This person may also monitor your vital signs during surgery. The surgeon will make an incision near the joint, remove the damaged joint, and replace it with an artificial one. For a knee, this includes fitting a metal cap over the thigh bone (femur). For a hip, the surgeon may replace the entire ball and socket joint.Surgery takes about one to two hours for full hip replacement and up to two hours for knee replacement. Some patients opt to have both knees replaced at once, which makes for a longer time in surgery.What Does Recovery Look Like?After the surgery, you’ll go to a recovery area. Some people stay in the hospital for a few days, and others go home the same day. It’s good to get moving as soon as possible, so physical therapy usually begins the day after surgery. You should expect to use crutches or a walker until your doctor decides you can walk unassisted.Pain is normal during the recovery process. Your doctor will recommend either prescription or over-the-counter pain medicines. Dr. DeLullo says most patients are back at work in about six weeks. At three months, joint function is near normal, save for some stiffness and soreness. But, he cautions, \u201cI always tell patients it’s probably the better part of a year before you are not thinking about that joint anymore.”Are There Complications?As with any surgery, there are risks involved. For joint replacement, these can include:Blood clotsInfection at the site of the incision or around the jointDislocation or loosening of the new jointInjury to a nearby nerve or blood vesselOften, complications first appear as pain, redness, and swelling. You may also experience a high fever or chills. If you develop any of these issues, call your doctor right away.How Long Does a New Joint Last?According to the National Institutes of Health, most people can expect a new joint to last anywhere from 15 to 20 years. Beyond that, the joint surface may start to wear away. If that happens, a second surgery could be required.What Should I Do Next?If joint replacement surgery sounds like it might be right for you, talk to your doctor or an orthopaedic specialist. They’ll help you weigh the benefits and risks and put you on the path to living with joints that work for you.Editor's Note: This article was originally published on January 29, 2021, and was last reviewed on June 2, 2022. Changed SEO Title to match changed headline in blogSourcesJane E. Brody. Should You Have Knee Replacement Surgery. New York Times. https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2018\/10\/15\/well\/live\/should-you-have-knee-replacement-surgery.htmlNational Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. Joint Replacement Surgery. National Institutes of Health. https:\/\/www.niams.nih.gov\/health-topics\/joint-replacement-surgeryNational Library of Medicine. Medline Plus Magazine. Joint replacement surgery: What you need to know. National Institutes of Health. https:\/\/magazine.medlineplus.gov\/article\/joint-replacement-surgery-what-you-need-to-knowOrthoInfo. Total Knee Replacement. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. https:\/\/orthoinfo.aaos.org\/en\/treatment\/total-knee-replacement\/OrthoInfo. Total Hip Replacement. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. https:\/\/orthoinfo.aaos.org\/en\/treatment\/total-hip-replacement\/"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2021","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2021\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"01","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2021\/\/01\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Do You Need Joint Replacement Surgery?","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2021\/01\/do-you-need-joint-replacement\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]