Advances in implant materials, surgical techniques, and implant design have helped make knee replacement a successful treatment for people with advanced arthritis and other forms of joint damage. This type of surgery gives most patients many years of reliable function; nevertheless, sometimes knee replacements do wear out.
Many people love running as a stress reliever, and the thought of having to miss out after surgery can be disappointing to say the least. You may be able to run after knee replacement surgery, but only after a significant and careful recovery period.
While some people may be able to run after a hip replacement, many doctors will urge caution to avoid aggravating the area and delaying the healing process. Running is considered a high-impact exercise, meaning that with every step, you exert significant force through your legs, on the joints, and on the implant materials.
There are so many reasons Canadian patients choose U.S. surgeons for procedures like joint replacement surgery, from shorter wait times to access to the United States’ advanced surgical technology. Nevertheless, recovering from surgery abroad often presents challenges that go beyond the procedure itself and travel arrangements.
Even though most medical tourists would agree that the planning is worth it, there are many logistics to work out when traveling to the United States for surgery, even from a neighboring country like Canada. Accordingly, one of the most common questions Canadians ask before surgery in the U.S. is when they should return home.
Unfortunately, about 14.3% of individuals aged 60 years and older report having significant hip pain on most days. This chronic hip pain can affect nearly every aspect of life.
A total knee replacement can dramatically reduce pain caused by arthritis or joint damage, resulting in an average decrease of 5.35 on the visual analog scale, a psychometric tool that allows patients to rate their pain from 0 to 10.
Eighty-nine percent of individuals who were living with severe hip pain reported having only mild pain or no pain at all five years after getting total hip replacement surgery. In addition to reducing joint pain, this procedure can greatly improve mobility. However, to achieve the maximum benefits, patients should undergo physical therapy after hip replacement surgery.
Dr. Shane Martin
