Your knees are an important part of your body and until you start having problems with them, you don’t realize just how important they are. Many people today end up having to have knee replacement surgery in order to stop the pain and to make the knee functional again. Recovering from this type of surgery is not easy and is also very painful. There are, however, things that lead up to having to have knee replacement surgery and ways that you can avoid being a patient that goes in for this procedure in some cases. With that in mind, read on below to find out what those events and prevention tips are.
Certain Types of Arthritis
There are certain types of arthritis that can lead to the patient eventually having to have a knee replacement procedure. From rheumatoid arthritis to traumatic arthritis, which is the result of a serious knee injury, knee replacement has been a viable option for years. However, in recent years, it seems that there is another way to treat a wide range of conditions, including having to have a knee replacement because of rheumatoid arthritis, this is done with stem cells and is something to consider when the time comes to talk to your doctor about knee replacement options.
Other Things Leading to Knee Replacement
There are a few other things that can lead to knee replacement as well. They are listed below.
- Decreased mobility due to the pain of a bad knee
- An increase in pain
- It’s hard to do daily activities
- Your quality of life is suffering
There are also a few things that you can do to prevent the knee replacement surgery that could be in your future.
Lose the Extra Weight
It is possible that if you lose the extra weight you have been carrying that you can avoid having to have the procedure to fix your knees. Your knees carry quite a bit of the weight of your body, so losing weight will take some of the added pressure off, which may result in not needing the surgery anymore. It is important that you talk to your primary care provider before making any changes in your diet, however, so that you can decide together what is the best option for you to lose the weight you need to lose.
Take Care of Your Knees
The best way to ensure that you don’t have to have a knee replacement is by taking care of the knees that you were born with. Eating right, getting the right amount of exercise and taking care of your body will go a long way towards you never having knee problems, to begin with. Though some things can be avoided, there are some that can.
These are just a few of the things that you need to know about knee replacement, what leads to it, and how to avoid it if at all possible. Follow the tips above and take care of those knees, so that they will be able to take care of you.