As you get older, it is no surprise that parts of the body start to wear down some.   The body is very resilient to healing itself on a daily basis but sometimes the system gets pushed past the “point of no return.”  Fortunately, the world of medicine has created replacement parts for knees, shoulder, hips, and ankles (as well as other body parts) that allow full function minus the pain…..well, at least down the line.

If you are considering, are rehabilitating, or have had a joint replacement in the past there are a few things you should know in respects to you new hardware.  As a therapist, I know the rehabilitation process hurts and seems like it will never end but keep in mind, a few decades ago a person with damaged knees would be in a wheelchair instead of up and walking.  So, now that you are past the fact you are thankful for all that is modern medicine, here are the real facts:

1.       It’s Mean Upfront – This is surgery….major surgery.  The surgeon breaks open your joints, saws out the bad parts, and hammers/screws in the new ones.  The physicality to simply put in the replacement is so great that many physicians stop doing them around 60 years old.  The body part is going to swell up and send off every pain signal available in its arsenal.  The outstanding benefit that you are to have is the parts currently damaged will heal and the parts that wouldn’t heal are gone. 

2.       Rehabilitation Takes a Bit – Going through rehabilitation to get the joint moving as soon as possible is the best bet.  The joint will have a tendency to scar down and restrict overall motion.  Most important things to consider:  Reduce the swelling and Improve the motion.  Take care of those two things and the rest will take care of itself.

3.       Cold and Wet – You will become a human barometer.  When it rains or is very cold the joint will hurt.  This achy soreness can go on for the rest of your life so please don’t be shocked if hurricane season or winter brings your new body part some grief. 

Now, I gave you some realizations about have a total joint replacement.  Here is the overwhelming benefit that through all the time, money, pain, and aggravation: you have the opportunity to keep moving.  Being limited to the point where you never leave the house because of knee pain is a far worse consequence that a little achiness when the weather turns bad.   Physical pain is real but the emotional pain from being incapacitated by constant joint pain, isolation, and depression is far worse.  So in respects to joint replacement, keep that mind focused on a future of getting your life back and most importantly keep moving.