The decision to undergo knee replacement surgery isn’t one that should be made lightly or without a comprehensive understanding of when you’re ready for the procedure. But how can you know when you’re ready for knee replacement? There may be some physical signs, but you’ll also want to assess the mental and emotional burden that knee discomfort has on you to see if you’re ready to pursue the procedure. Below, we look at some of the physical, mental and emotional signs that suggest you’re ready for knee replacement.
When It’s Time For Knee Replacement
Let’s explore some of the physical, mental and emotional signs that you need to pursue more hands-on treatment for your knee discomfort.
- Physical – Physical signs are the most evident. Pain is typically what pushes most people to consider knee replacement, but pain alone does not mean that you are in need of a replacement procedure. Other symptoms are also typically present, like stiffness, weakness, decreased range of motion and swelling. If you’re dealing with one or more of these symptoms, you’ve been diagnosed with joint degeneration or dysfunction, and you have not made any meaningful progress despite your pursuit of at least six weeks of conservative efforts like physical therapy and weight loss, it’s likely time to have a conversation with your orthopedic specialist about knee replacement surgery.
- Mental – Let’s look at the mental burden that knee discomfort can have on a person and how it weighs into the decision to undergo knee replacement surgery. If you find that you’re constantly thinking about your knee or you’re letting knee discomfort keep you from pursuing the activities you enjoy, knee problems are weighing heavy on your mental health. When we can’t pursue our favorite activities or we’re constantly in fear of how knee pain is going to impact our day, it’s our mental health that suffers. You’re likely feeling more anxious or stressed as a result of your chronic knee discomfort, and these mental health issues can have a physical impact on our health. If knee pain is always in the back of your mind, it’s time to take action. Talk to your doctor about the next best steps for your knee pain.
- Emotional – There is also an emotional burden attached to chronic knee pain. Not only can knee pain keep you from the activities you enjoy, it can also make it harder to keep up with your social circle. If you’ve had to stop going to your weekly Pickleball meetups or you’re not able to ride your bike with your wife like you have in the past, your social connections are taking a hit. Studies have shown that having strong interpersonal connections, even if it’s just with a few people, is important to your health as you age, and you shouldn’t let knee pain be the reason some of these connections fall apart. Knee pain can leave you feeling isolated or detached from people and groups that you enjoy interacting with, and that’s no way to go through life. If you’re not as engaged socially as you’d like to be because of your persistent knee pain, take back control of your life by talking with your orthopedic specialist about the possibility of a knee replacement procedure.
Knee pain can weigh heavy on the mind, body and soul, but it doesn’t have to if you are willing to acknowledge that it may be time to give real thought to the possibility of knee replacement surgery. Dr. Botero and his team would be more than happy to offer personalized advice after taking a closer look at your knees so that you can chart the right path forward. For more information, reach out to his clinic today at (865) 410-1218.
