HOW TO TELL WHEN YOU NEED A JOINT REPLACEMENT
If you have tried treatments including medication, physiotherapy, and activity modifications without relief, you may be a candidate for a total joint replacement.
The most common reasons for a joint replacement include:
1. Severe joint damage. This is typically due to advanced/end stages of osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. 2. Severe trauma to the joint(s). Fractures and dislocations often lead to joint replacements. Some injuries can only be addressed through surgical treatment, depending on how critical the damage was. 3. Chronic pain. If your pain constantly affects your daily life and no other treatments have seemed to help, your doctor may suggest surgery. If you believe you may require total joint replacement surgery, it is essential to prepare yourself for the process.
What can you do to prepare for total joint surgery?
Consulting with one of our physiotherapists can help prepare you physically, mentally, and emotionally for your upcoming surgery. Understanding what to expect has been shown to help achieve post-operative goals faster. Our pre-operative assessment and treatment session helps decrease the length of stay post-operatively, reduces anxiety before and after surgery, improves self-confidence, and establishes a relationship with your physiotherapist. You can help ensure a smooth surgery and speedy recovery by planning. You can also ensure an early return of your function by learning what to expect and what exercises to perform. In addition, you can take steps to manage your first weeks at home by arranging for help and preparing with assistive items, such as a shower bench or a long-handled reacher.
Your initial appointment will consist of a physical evaluation to determine what course of treatment will be best for your needs. Your physiotherapist will create a specialized treatment plan based on your assessment to rehabilitate and bring you back to your optimum physical health. At first, your treatment plan will consist of passive physiotherapy, primarily focused on pain relief, swelling control, and restoring basic mobility. This may include manual therapy, gentle therapeutic exercises, or any other combination of treatment services that your physiotherapist deems for your treatment plan. After your passive therapy, you will continue into active physiotherapy treatments. These will include strengthening exercises, balance, and gait training to ensure you progress while simultaneously preventing falls or other injuries that could inhibit your progress. In addition, at-home treatments will help make your recovery as quick and comfortable as possible, so your knee or hip can get back to its normal level of function!
Physiotherapy after total joint replacement
Whether you have total hip or total knee replacement, physiotherapy will be necessary for rehabilitation. Your physiotherapist will provide a treatment plan for you that will assist in restoring your range of motion, flexibility, strength, endurance, and overall mobility of the affected joint.
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