Humans are prone to procrastination, especially when we need to do something we aren’t particularly looking forward to. Even if the end result will be great, the act of reaching that destination can seem daunting and make us put off things that we shouldn’t. That’s especially true for something like joint replacement surgery, but unlike some other things that we put off, like cleaning the gutters or remodeling our bathroom, putting off surgery can have negative implications for our health. We explain why you shouldn’t delay if you are an ideal candidate for knee or hip replacement surgery.
Don’t Put Off Joint Replacement Surgery
Everyone knows that they will have better physical function and less pain once they are recovered after hip or knee replacement surgery, but patients know that the process will take some time. They also think that as long as they eventually undergo surgery, everything will be the same in the end. Unfortunately, that’s a common misconception, and you can easily end off worse by delaying care.
One of the biggest problems that affects people with a painful knee or hip joint is that it severely affects their mobility and activity levels. You may be able to power through the discomfort for normal activities, but pain is likely stopping you from pursuing other activities, like running, walking or certain types of exercise. The longer you put off surgery, the longer you have a more sedentary lifestyle, and that can have severe complications for your health.
Recent studies have found that patients who unfortunately had to have their replacement surgeries postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic were more likely to be worse off because of it, simply because they had an even longer period of decreased mobility and exercise.
Don’t Wait Until Tomorrow
Think about it this way. Let’s say you’re 67 years old and have been told you’re a candidate for knee replacement surgery. If you have the operation performed three months later and go through your rehab, you’ll be back to most normal activities three months post-op. Now, you’ll be able to pursue more activities, remain independent and keep moving with less pain than you had before. Compare that with someone who put off surgery for two years for one reason or another. They were likely much more sedentary during those two years of indecision, and aside from just dealing with pain each day, they also stand to have an elevated risk of cardiovascular events because their heart didn’t get the regular exercise it needed.
For the above example, even though both patients would have undergone knee surgery and been fully recovered three months post-op, it’s very unlikely that their health will both be the same when they are 69 and a half years old. One will have two more years of staying active under their belt, while the other will likely be dealing with the effects of two years of limited activity and worsening knee pain, and that doesn’t even factor in the higher expected costs associated with putting off surgery.
So if you want to maintain your independence, stay active and achieve all the health benefits that come along with living an active lifestyle, don’t delay if joint pain is slowing you down and you’ve been told you’re an ideal candidate for replacement surgery. Eventually having surgery isn’t the same as attacking the problem head on and getting back to activities sooner. Your body and your heart will thank you for it.
If you want to learn more about your joint replacement options, or if you just want to talk to a specialist about your joint pain, reach out to Dr. Botero’s office today.
