Many people experience excruciating knee pain when the joint suffers wear and tear. This pain affects their mobility and independence. However, if doctors advise them to undergo KNEE REPLACEMENT SURGERY, they are just not convinced. The reason is the umpteen bad stories and myths surrounding this advancement in medical science. People would rather suffer than undergo this surgery. Most seniors feel age factor affects their recovery and that it would be a waste of money. Here are some MYTHS surrounding knee replacement surgery:
1 Won’t be able to bend knee after the surgery– The knees feel comfortable after the surgery, and doctors prescribe basic physiotherapy for a few days. You can comfortably turn your knees and do all activities like before. Walking, swimming, cycling, driving, climbing stairs, etc. are allowed. Only contact games, such as football, hockey, basketball, etc. should be avoided.
2 The foreign metal in the body causes a lot of issues– The metal used for the replacement is a special metal fully compatible with the human body, and it will not cause any issues or side effects. The artificial joints will function normally, and you will not be able to feel any difference.
3 Will have to avail physiotherapy constantly– 98% of the patients start walking about four weeks after the surgery with basic physiotherapy exercises that doctors suggest. Patients can avail of physiotherapy services initially if they feel more comfortable having someone to guide them. And once the patient starts walking, only regular exercise is needed, and no constant physiotherapy.
4 Recover takes long– These days medical science has advanced so much that most surgeries are minimally invasive. Also, while all surgeries will have some pain associated, nowadays, pain management is excellent. Most patients despite age, recover fully in four to five weeks to walk normally. People can drive cars in about 6-8 weeks after surgery. The only caveat is that they follow the doctor’s advice through the recovery period.
5 The replacement works only for ten years– Today, with the advances in medical science, most knee replacements can last up to 30 years. Hence, only a few patients may have to undergo second knee revision surgery due to some specific issues. In fact, for many people, it lasts for a lifetime.
6 There is no scope for a second knee replacement surgery– If you do knee replacement surgery early on, and there is a need to do it decades later, it is possible. It is called revision joint replacement surgery. The second operation happens in a few cases to curb the comorbidity issues that might have resurfaced again. As mentioned above, usually, the need does not arise.
7 Whole knee gets removed like an organ replacement– Unlike the organs that often get wholly removed, the knee is not. Only the worn parts are replaced with artificial ones to enable movement. It is more a repair or resurfacing than a replacement.
8 I am too old– If a surgeon says that you are clinically fit to undergo knee replacement surgery, age is not a consideration. Some people in their 90s have also had successful surgery. With a positive mind, the right doctor, and the support of family members, people can undergo this operation at any age.
9 The risk of failure is too high– The stories about the failures may well be concocted, blown up, or happened due to many other factors, including the patients not following the suggested regime. Knee replacement surgery is a safe procedure these days with minimal risk. Infection is an issue. However, it is only 2%, which is not very different from any other surgery. And the success rate is more than 95%.
10 Simultaneous operation of both knees is not possible– The pain and recovery period is the same for both knees. Many doctors recommend that if both knees need an operation, it is best to do it simultaneously. You only need to visit the hospital once, and recovery happens together for both knees. However, two compulsions can force people to decide otherwise. One is that if it goes wrong, at least one leg is okay. And the other being the insurance amount. If expenses for both go beyond the insurance claim amount, people may prefer to split it to enable claims in two different years.
11 People with diabetes and hypertension can not undergo knee replacement– People suffering from these diseases can also get a knee replacement and recover like others. Doctors know how to manage these issues to ensure smooth surgery, and if there are risks, they would sound you about it.
So these are some of the common myths associated with knee replacement surgery. If you need to go for knee replacement, please go ahead and get it done.
Waiting for your views on this blog.
Anil Malik
Mumbai, India
1st June 2023