Across Canada, thousands of patients are living with chronic hip or knee pain and waiting an exorbitant amount of time for orthopedic surgery. Unfortunately, mobility and quality of life can worsen during their wait, rendering conservative treatments ineffective.
Knee replacement surgery can be a favorable, life-changing decision for people struggling with chronic pain and stiffness that limits their mobility. However, deciding when to undergo this procedure takes a lot of forethought to ensure optimal results and minimize the chances of needing a revision down the line.
Joints support nearly every bodily movement, from standing and walking to climbing stairs and playing sports. Therefore, keeping your joints healthy is crucial for leading an active, pain-free lifestyle.
Managing discomfort while waiting for a medical procedure, especially joint replacement surgery, is essential. By taking the right pain meds before surgery, you can safely increase your comfort levels and ensure you are prepared for the procedure ahead.
For many Canadians, the path to surgical care can be unnecessarily long and filled with uncertainty, especially for knee and hip procedures, as joint replacement wait times in Canada can stretch well beyond the advised 182-day waiting period. Unfortunately, as patients are forced to wait for their medical care, their quality of life may suffer due to an increase in pain and a decrease in mobility.
Canadians traveling to the United States for medical procedures can experience a wide range of benefits, such as skipping the line and accessing surgery sooner. Nevertheless, the process requires diligent planning. Canadian patients should be ready to play an active role in their recovery process through careful medication management.
When people think about the process of recovering from a surgery, they usually focus on physical aspects, but supporting the mind is just as essential as treating the body. In addition to prioritizing physical therapy, wound care, and responsible medication usage, patients should take care of their mental health after surgery to increase their chances of quickly and fully recovering.
Thanks to decades of medical innovations, hip replacement surgery has become one of the most common and successful orthopedic procedures. This surgery is designed to relieve pain, restore mobility, and improve the overall quality of life for anyone suffering from hip joint damage caused by injuries or degenerative conditions like osteoarthritis.
Dr. Shane Martin
