Total Joint Replacement
Total Joint Replacement Surgery Columbia, SC
Total Joint Replacement
Your day-to-day life can be significantly affected if you are suffering from joint pain. Causes for this joint pain can vary from specific traumatic injuries to prolonged “wear and tear.”
Joint pain in the knees, hips, and shoulders is most common and can be caused for a variety of different reasons, including:
- Bursitis
- Arthritis
- Dislocations
- Fractures
The physicians and physical therapy department at Midlands Orthopaedics & Neurosurgery will ensure the most comprehensive approach to help find relief for you in the quickest way possible.
What is Total Joint Replacement?
Total joint replacement, also known as arthroplasty, is a surgery in which damaged or arthritic parts of a joint are removed and replaced with a prosthesis made of metal, plastic, or ceramic. The prosthesis is made to move as a normal, healthy joint would.
Most joint replacements are done on the hip and knee, but surgery can also be done on the ankle, wrist, shoulder, and elbow.
Joint Replacement Procedure
Surgery to replace a joint takes a few hours. The procedure is done in a hospital or a center for outpatient surgery.
During the surgery, the damaged bone and cartilage are removed from your joint and replaced with metal, plastic, or ceramic prosthetic parts. The prosthesis looks like a natural joint and moves like one, too. For example, in a hip with arthritis, the damaged ball (the top of the femur) is replaced with a metal ball on a metal stem that fits into the femur. The damaged socket in the pelvis is then replaced with a plastic socket.
Total Joint Replacement Recovery
Everyone’s recovery and rehabilitation will be different. But, most of the time, your doctor will tell you to start using your “new” joint soon after your surgery. Even though it can be challenging, following your doctor’s orders will help you get better faster.
Most people will have temporary pain in the joint that was replaced because the muscles around it are weak from not being used, the body is getting used to the new joint, and the tissues are healing. In a few months, this pain should go away.
After your surgery, physical therapy will be vital to your recovery. Our physical therapists will give you specific exercises to help restore movement and strengthen the joint.
Who is a Good Candidate for Joint Replacement?
You and your doctor should decide together if you should have a Total Joint Replacement. For example, if you have severe joint pain and stiffness that makes it hard to go about your daily life and physical therapy isn’t helping, you should consider joint replacement.
Everyone has a different case. So, before recommending a total joint replacement, your doctor may consider other treatments first. Below is a list of questions you may consider when deciding if a joint replacement suits you. If you answer yes to these questions, a joint replacement may be best:
- Is the pain or stiffness in your joints so bad that it makes it hard to walk or get in and out of chairs?
- Do you feel a lot of pain in your joint when you’re just sitting or lying down?
- Do you have swelling or inflammation that doesn’t go away with rest, physical therapy, or medicine?
- Is there something visually wrong with the joint?
Below are some of the factors that are also considered when discussing total joint replacement:
- Blood test results
- Physical strength
- Bone density
- Diet
- Lifestyle
- Age
How Long do Joint Replacements Last?
Most new joints last between 10 and 15 years. But different things happen to each person after arthroplasty, and you must learn to take care of your new joint. If your replacement joint stops working after 15 years, you can get a new one, depending on your situation.
At Midlands Orthopaedics & Neurosurgery, our team of Total Joint Physicians is here to help you throughout your joint replacement journey. Feel comfort in knowing that these specially trained physicians have one goal: to get you back to a pain-free lifestyle as quickly as possible. So book your appointment today or call us at (803)256-4107.
