Arthritis Symptoms and Joint Replacement
Hip and knee replacements are some of the most common surgical procedures, with more than 1 million Americans undergoing joint replacements each year. Adam Olsen, MD, describes common arthritis symptoms and treatment options, including joint replacement surgery. Dr. Olsen is a Mass General Brigham orthopedic surgeon and cares for patients at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital.
What is arthritis?
Both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are conditions that can affect your joints and cause joint pain, stiffness, and swelling. Over time, this can cause cartilage damage. Cartilage is a smooth tissue that protects the movement of the joint. As arthritis progresses, the cartilage continues to break down, causing more pain and reduced range of motion.
"Arthritis pain is always first treated with nonsurgical strategies, but for those patients whose symptoms worsen over time, joint replacement may be a curative option for the affected area," says Dr. Olsen.
What are common arthritis symptoms?
Common symptoms of arthritis include:
Swelling
Stiffness
Pain
Limited range of movement
Managing arthritis pain
There are nonsurgical options available if you want to reduce the pain associated with arthritis. Eating healthy foods and losing weight can be a good place to start.
"The hip and knee joints carry our weight through all our daily activities, like walking and standing. Your joints experience forces that can be up to 7 times your body weight, so even losing 1 pound can improve your joint pain and help you move better," says Dr. Olsen.
Other nonsurgical treatment options include:
Over-the-counter medications, like Tylenol or anti-inflammatories (such as ibuprofen), to manage the pain
Joint injections like steroids or hyaluronic gel
Low-impact strength training to strengthen the muscles to support your joints
Arthritis and joint replacement
“You may still experience joint pain even after trying nonsurgical treatment options,” says Dr. Olsen. “If that happens, it might be time to talk to your doctor about having your joint replaced with surgery.”
The most common arthritis joint replacement procedures are:
Hip replacement
Knee replacement
Partial knee replacement (depending on where your arthritis is located)
Hip replacement surgery
If you have hip arthritis, the cartilage in the ball and socket joint wears away. During a hip replacement, your surgeon makes an opening from the front, the side, or the back of your hip. They remove the ball and resurface the socket. They then place a new socket, liner, ball, and stem in your hip.
Knee replacement surgery
If you have knee arthritis, the cartilage between your thigh bone, shin bone, and kneecap wears away. During a knee replacement, your surgeon makes an opening to the front of the knee. They remove the damaged cartilage, replace it with metal, and add a plastic insert in the middle of the joint that allows your knee to glide smoothly. Depending on where your arthritis is located, your surgeon also may remove the back part of your kneecap and replace it with plastic.
Joint replacement surgery recovery
Everyone's recovery is different, but most patients can walk with an assistive walking device immediately after their surgery. These devices can include:
Walkers
Canes
Crutches
“We encourage patients to move as much as they can after surgery,” Dr. Olsen says. “Walking in the first several weeks after surgery is a great way to not only improve your mobility, but also reduce your risk of blood clots.”
Following surgery, you need to do exercises either on your own or with a physical therapist. A physical therapist can develop a routine targeted to your needs to help you recover from your surgery.
Your muscles and tissues need time to heal after surgery, and it can take up to 1 full year for a recovery. “Hip and knee pain can greatly limit your ability to move through life and enjoy your favorite activities. A joint replacement can help you get back to doing the things you love,” says Dr. Olsen.
