Since knee replacement surgery is an elective procedure, you have a little flexibility in when you decide to go under the knife. You don’t want to undergo surgery before a big trip, or maybe you don’t want to be hobbled during the holiday season. Everyone has different factors that dictate when they should pursue their knee replacement procedure, but is there actually a best time of year to undergo knee replacement surgery? We talk about when the ideal time to schedule your knee replacement procedure is in today’s blog.
The Best Time To Schedule Joint Replacement Surgery
We’ll cut to the chase and let you know that there is no one specific answer as to the perfect date to schedule your knee replacement procedure. That said, there are some factors that you’ll want to consider when determining when to schedule your knee replacement procedure.
First and foremost, as we’ve said on the blog, you shouldn’t delay your knee replacement surgery longer than necessary. Degeneration inside the knee joint is only going to continue, so pushing your surgery months or years down the road isn’t a great idea. If you know that replacement surgery is in your future, scheduling your operation sooner rather than later will allow you to have access to a healthy artificial joint that can get you back to doing all the activities you love. One of the most common things we hear after a successful knee replacement operation is how the patient wished they would have had the surgery sooner because of the quality of life improvements that they’ve seen. So if you know a surgery is in your future, it’s a good idea to start thinking about when to get the surgery this year.
It’s also helpful to look at your personal schedule and see what’s in store. Due to the nature of the procedure and what will be required during your recovery, it’s unlikely that there is a perfect stretch in your schedule. You’re going to need months of rehab, and while that doesn’t mean you won’t be able to do anything fun for months, odds are there’s never going to be a perfect time to have the operation performed. Don’t use small events as a reason not to have this lifechanging surgery. We understand if you want to put the surgery off until after your daughter’s wedding or your European vacation, but if you don’t want to have the surgery because of some smaller events, take a step back and realize that these short-term sacrifices will all be worth it in the end.
Next, you’ll also want to consider your seasonal schedule. Every time of year has its own benefits and challenges. For example, it’s easier to move around outside during the summer, but it can also be hot and humid, making your rehab a bit uncomfortable. Snow during the winter can complicate mobility when you’re out of the house, but people also tend to be less active during the winter, so you may miss out on fewer outdoor activities while recovering during the dark and cold winter days. Again, evaluate what’s important to you and know that the specific time of year will bring its own unique benefits and drawbacks.
Finally, it’s also helpful to make sure that you understand your insurance and how this year’s plan will provide coverage for your knee replacement. If your plan tends to change each year, scheduling your operation in early January or February can make things a little more confusing. However, a lot of people try to schedule their joint replacement operations for later in the year when their deductible and max out of pocket expenses have already been met, so it may be tougher to get on the schedule if you try to squeeze in your surgery before the end of the year. It’s helpful to really understand your health insurance policy and be proactive in scheduling so that you can time out both your surgery and your recovery process to stay within the same coverage cycle if that is important to you.
In the end, there is no perfect time to schedule your knee replacement operation. That said, our advice to you is that research shows that you should not put off knee replacement surgery if conservative treatments have failed. Even though large components will be replaced, the longer you put off surgery, the more damaged the structures that help to support the knee can be. Instead, talk with your orthopedic specialist about getting on their schedule and then pursue some prehabilitation exercises to help strengthen your supportive knee structures while you wait for your new knee!
For more information about scheduling your knee replacement, or to talk to a specialist about discomfort that you’ve been experiencing in your knee, reach out to Dr. Botero and his team today at (865) 558-4444.
