For many, the daily struggle with joint pain severely limits their engagement with the activities and events that make their life fun and enjoyable — be it walking the dog, playing sports, or staying active with the grandkids.
The discomfort and immobility that stem from degenerative conditions like arthritis often ultimately culminate in a pivotal question: “Should I consider joint replacement surgery?”
Arthritis, particularly osteoarthritis, leads the reasons behind joint replacement surgeries, and this very common condition manifest with symptoms of persistent pain, stiffness after periods of inactivity, swelling, and a noticeable decline in one’s range of motion.
When noninvasive treatments such as medication, physical therapy, or lifestyle adjustments no longer do the trick, health care providers may suggest hip or knee replacement surgery as a solution.
Joint replacement surgeries, though, have evolved significantly and offer much more than a solution to pain relief. In the current landscape of medical and technological advancements, patients undergoing knee or hip replacements are experiencing shorter recoveries and quicker returns to activity.
These methods allow for smaller incisions, which preserve more of the natural muscle and tissue, and offer better precision, leading to improved joint functionality and a reduced risk of complications.
Thanks to the minimally invasive techniques and enhanced recovery protocols, patients have shorter hospital stays (many are even discharged the same day) and faster recovery times.
These faster recovery times ultimately result in a quicker return to the activities that had to be abandoned and foregone because of that persistent pain — which is the ultimate goal.
Enhanced surgical techniques, such as computer-assisted surgery, have empowered patients to return to their passions and activities much sooner than previously possible.
The goal of these surgeries is not merely to alleviate pain, but to give the patient a chance to reclaim the active, pain-free life that pain had put on hold.
Orthopedics at McLaren Health Care
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