Redwood Orthopaedic Surgery Associates | Santa Rosa, CA

Why You Should Have Total Knee Replacement Surgery in 2020

Knee Treatment Santa RosaIs knee pain causing you to avoid staircases and along walkways? Do you need a hand to stand back up from sitting? When your knee joints are injured or damaged, it can feel like your bones are grinding against a chalkboard. The pain caused by the worn-out ends of your bones or hard cartilage can be excruciating at times, so it’s natural to find new habits that mean less movement.

But avoiding much movement can lead to missing out on so much that is happening around you. Maybe 2020 is the year that you face your greatest challenges and finally replace your knees.

Knee replacement surgery removes any of that worn-out bone ends or hard cartilage and replaces it with metal and plastic parts. These new parts are either cemented in place, or an exposed part of the bone is textured or coated to promote bone growth over them. Your new interlocking parts allow more flexibility in your knee joints while also providing more stability.

While there are a few different types of knee surgery, total knee surgery replaces the joint surfaces between your femur (thigh bone) and your tibia (shin bone). It could also include replacing the surface under your patella (kneecap) with a plastic dome, though some surgeons prefer to keep the natural patella as much as possible.

The idea of having metal parts between your leg bones may not sound like the most movement-friendly material to use. But in reality, the smooth surface means no friction and a fluid movement.

Of course, a replaced knee will not have the same flexibility as your pre-injured knee, and there is always the possibility that the metal and plastic parts will need to be replaced at some point. Another side effect is that you may experience some clicking when you walk.

Side effects aside, total knee replacement surgery is a common practice with low risk. And having the freedom to move wherever you want, whenever you want is a great way to enjoy the new year. If you have any other questions about this or any other knee pain questions, call our office at 707-544-3400.

Posted in: Knee Treatment

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