As we grow older, our bodies and joints become weaker. Disease and ailment play a large part in old age. However, medical science has made a number of health issues easier to deal with. Joint replacement is one such advancement in medical science that we at Ranka Hospital use to help our patients. Let’s take a look at what it means to have a joint replaced and how Ranka Hospital can help.
When Do You Need to Replace a Joint?
Joint replacement is an option for those who have suffered injury or conditions such as osteoarthritis. When the pain in the joints limits a person’s daily activities and does not seem to be responding to conservative treatment, joint replacement surgery is recommended. There are a number of factors that increase the risk of weakening your joints such as hereditary, trauma, obesity, repetitive injuries etc. A joint replacement surgery should only be considered after all other treatments have failed to show desired results.
How Do You Replace a Joint?
The aim of a joint replacement surgery is to restore mobility of a damaged joint by replacing it with an artificial one. These artificial joints are called prosthesis and can be made of various materials such as ceramic, titanium etc.
At Ranka Hospital, Pune we do all kinds of joint replacement surgeries including:
A total hip replacement surgery involves 3 kinds of prosthesis. The first is a cup that is used to replace the hips socket. The next is a ball that replaces the head of the thigh bone and finally there is a stem that is attached to the thigh bone. These 3 together are responsible for the movement of the hip. In some cases, not every part will be damaged.
Knee replacement surgery involves removing the damaged bone and cartilage at the end of the thigh bone and at the top of the shin bone. It may also require replacing the kneecap surface.
The anatomy of the knee varies between individuals and between genders. Few hospitals, such as Ranka Hospital, Pune therefore provide customized knee replacement surgeries. A customized surgery uses a 3D scan of the knee to plan bone cuts.
Damage to the knee joint can hamper simple daily activities such as walking. It could also cause visible deformities such as knock-knees or crepitus.
Shoulder replacements are not as common as hip & knee replacements, but they are performed as and when the situation arises. They are also a highly effective way to relieve joint pain due to injury or deterioration. Similar to the hip joint, the shoulder joint is a ball & socket joint. Shoulder replacement involves either replacing just the head of the ball (humerus bone) or both the ball and socket.
Preparing for a Joint Replacement Surgery:
As with any surgery, a patient needs to be both physically and mentally prepared. If you are not convinced about the surgery, do not rush into it. Take your time to understand all details and clarify any doubts about the procedure and post-operative care.
Mentally, make sure your surgeon takes you through the entire joint replacement process before the surgery. S/he should explain the various kinds of implants that can be used, the kind of anesthesia your case would require, expected recovery time, pain management and so on and so forth.
Physically too, you need to be prepared. It helps if you adopt a nutritious diet, do some physical exercise (as recommended by a doctor) and quit nicotine and any other narcotic substances you may be using. Doing these things will help speed-up the recovery process. Being overweight adds additional pressure on the new joint. Therefore, some doctors may even recommend a weight-loss regime for a while before they perform the surgery. Additionally, stronger muscles give you more support to deal with things like using crutches etc.
It can take months to recover from a joint replacement surgery, so you need to plan ahead for post-operative care as well. You will require some amount of assistance, so make sure there is somebody available to help you. It could be a friend, family member or even a trained nurse.
The house too will need to be rearranged slightly. At first mobility will be limited so keep what you need in close proximity. Once you can start moving around, you need to make sure there is no furniture obstructing your path. Clear anything that puts you at risk of falling, such as rugs, oddly jutting out furniture or even electrical wires.
Most joint replacement patients (especially hip & knee) have been known to be able to stand up the first day post surgery. However, every individual has a different recovery timeline depending on their specific situation. If you follow your doctor’s instructions well, you should be able to recover completely within a few months.
Our state-of-the-art orthopedic facility at Ranka Hospital, Pune, gives you conditions that make the entire joint replacement procedure as smooth and stress-free as possible.