If you have been relatively healthy all of your life, you probably have not given much thought to how much you put your knees through. You rely on properly functioning knees for everyday activities like walking, sitting, standing, climbing up and down stairs, and even driving. When you add in activities like physical labor, athletics, dancing, or other strenuous pursuits, good knee function is critical to your overall physical performance. Knees help you move, keep you upright, and bear your weight.
Consequently, when something goes wrong with the knee, it can be devastating to your ability to live a normal life. At Tchejeyan Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine in Thousand Oaks, we offer a wide range of treatments to address knee problems, including total knee replacement.
What is meant by “total knee replacement”?
Knee joints are made up of several elements which work together to keep the joint stable, keep all the elements in the proper place, absorb shock, prevent friction between the bones, and enable movement. If any of these elements cease to function properly due to traumatic injury, arthritis, or cumulative degeneration, the knee may actually be incapable of healing, permanently impairing its function. In such a case, you may need to replace the joint with artificial implants that will operate the way a healthy knee is supposed to.
It’s Effective
People usually opt for total knee replacement when it is clear that more conservative treatment options like cortisone injections, anti-inflammatory medications, rest, or physical therapy have ceased to–or completely fail to–offer any lasting relief. By replacing the non-functioning joint with an artificial joint, total knee replacement can permanently restore knee function and eliminate pain.
A consultation and examination can help us determine if you’re a good candidate for total knee replacement. If an injury is serious enough, total knee replacement may be the best option for any patient, young or old.
It’s Lasting
Total knee replacement is not meant to merely alleviate pain or help you cope with damage to the knee. Instead, knee replacement is intended to give you a new, functioning joint that is as strong and durable as a healthy knee. In most cases, after full recovery, patients can expect up to three decades of nearly pain-free function after a total knee replacement procedure.
It’s Safe
Knee replacement surgery has been around for decades. Over that time, both surgical methods and prosthetic materials have improved tremendously, so that knee replacement is one of the most successful and effective remedies for pain and loss of function in the knee. At Tchejeyan Orthopaedics, our team has extensive experience with a wide variety of knee treatments, and we will be happy to explain the process in detail.
It’s Liberating
Total knee replacement is usually an out-patient procedure that takes two to three hours. And while there will be some temporary pain caused by the trauma of surgery, it can provide almost immediate relief to the pain caused by the damaged knee. Most patients can start rehabilitation exercises right away, and will usually notice improved comfort with the knee. After full recovery, patients who used to enjoy an active lifestyle can usually resume those activities without any problems.
It’s Affordable
Our facility accepts most major insurance plans. Since knee function is so critical to living a healthy lifestyle, nearly every insurance plan will cover knee replacement when it is medically warranted. On top of that, we strive to make our treatments as affordable and attainable as possible. We are happy to assist you in handling insurance claims.
It’s Healthful
Being physically active is necessary for overall health. When pain gets in the way of exercise and activity, numerous other problems often follow: weight gain, loss of muscle tone and mass, and so on. This puts an even greater strain on the knee, and can also lead to other debilitating health problems.
If you’re ready to learn more about total knee replacement or other procedures that could help, contact Tchejeyan Orthopaedics in Thousand Oaks today to set up a consultation.
