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.
Sleeping after a knee replacement surgery is when the human body makes the most significant progress toward recovery. While the patient is resting at night, their body undergoes an intensive healing process involving tissue repair, hormone regulation, and inflammation reduction, which helps rebuild strength and mobility.
For many Canadians, the decision to undergo joint replacement surgery comes with a frustrating obstacle: wait times that can stretch months or even years. The Canadian Institute for Health Information reported that nearly 40% of patients awaiting knee replacement in 2024 did not receive one within the recommended 182-day benchmark.
Typically, patients with an upcoming joint replacement spend most of their time thinking about the surgery component, mistakenly believing it is the only part that matters.
The choice to go into surgery is often life-changing. Since many procedures can affect mobility, independence, and a patient’s overall health for years to come, getting a second opinion before surgery can help you ensure you are making the best decision.
Joint conditions are some of the most common sources of chronic pain and limited mobility. In fact, about 58.5 million US adults have arthritis, and 25.7 million of those individuals claim that arthritis limits their ability to perform certain activities.
The first recorded attempt at hip replacement surgery was in 1891; however, this type of surgery was not deemed entirely effective until 1962. Moreover, even the successful total hip arthroplasties from the mid-1900s yielded relatively low implant survival rates after 10 years.
For many patients, the first 24 to 72 hours after a surgery can be the most challenging part of the healing process. Pain may be the most prominent during this time, since the body is working hard to repair tissues, control inflammation, and restore function.
Dr. Shane Martin
