Category Archives: Knee/Hip Replacement

Knee replacement surgery involves replacing the worn-out or diseased knee joint with an artificial joint called a prosthesis.  Knee replacement surgery is beneficial in relieving pain and restoring your lost disabilities. It has a 95% success rate.

Despite the fact that the knee replacement surgery can be a good treatment option, many people still have many misconceptions regarding it and it prevents many from getting the treatment on time.

Myth 1: Knee replacement surgery has very low success rate

Fact: Total knee replacement surgeries have a success rate of 95% in most cases. It is the best surgical treatment for those who can not perform their minor routine activities due to extreme knee pain.

Myth 2: Knee replacement surgery should be avoided as long as possible

Fact: It is absolutely not correct. It is not advisable to wait for the surgery until the pain becomes intolerable. Unnecessarily waiting for surgery and delaying it, is technically more challenging for the surgeon and it causes patients’ health to deteriorate overtime.

SEE ALSO: When is the time for knee replacement surgery?

Myth 3: Bending of the knee or sitting on the floor is difficult even after the replacement surgery

Fact: This is the most spread misconception but the fact is different. It totally depends on the quality of the knee surgery, prosthesis used and post-operative recovery of the patient. Some prosthesis allow the range of knee movements same as the normal knee joints.

Myth 4: If the surgery fails or knee implant fails, there is no chance for a repair

Fact: If surgery fails for any reason, your doctor may perform a second surgery, called revision knee replacement surgery. This is performed after evaluating the reasons of failure for the first surgery.

Myth 5: It is not possible to drive after knee replacement surgery

Fact: Driving is easier after the surgery. Most of the people start driving within 6-8 weeks of surgery.

Myth 6: Old aged people cannot undergo knee replacement surgery

Fact: Age is not a limiting factor when it comes to knee replacement surgery. The patient can undergo surgery at whatever age he is at, be it 45 or 65. All it requires a clinical fitness of the patient and a nod from the knee surgeon or an orthopedic surgeon.

Myth 7: It takes months and months to recover after a knee replacement surgery

Fact: The recovery period after a knee replacement surgery totally varies from patient to patient depending on their health conditions and post-surgery care. Some patients tend to recover within a few weeks of their knee replacement surgery and gradually resume their normal routines.

Final takeaway

With most of the myths surrounding total knee replacement surgery debunked, now you must have a clear understanding that knee replacement surgery is a wise decision to make. Unnecessarily waiting for surgery and delaying it is not a wise decision.

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What is Avascular Necrosis?

Avascular necrosis (AVN) is the death of bone tissue due to a loss of blood supply. You might also hear it called osteonecrosis, aseptic necrosis, or ischemic bone necrosis. If it isn’t treated, AVN can cause the bone to collapse. AVN most often affects your hip.

Anyone can be affected, but the condition is most common in people between the ages of 30 and 50.

Causes and Risk Factors for Avascular Necrosis

Things that can make avascular necrosis more likely include:

• Alcohol consumption
• Medical treatments like radiation therapy for cancer (as it weakens bones)
• Long term usage of steroid drugs
• Trauma (breaking or dislocating a hip)
• Certain medications
• Blood clots, inflammation, and damage to your arteries. All of these can block blood flow to your bones.

Symptoms of AVN

Many people have no symptoms in the early stages of avascular necrosis. As the condition worsens, your affected joint might hurt only when you put weight on it. Pain associated with avascular necrosis of the hip might center on the groin, thigh or buttock.

You may have severe pain if the bone and surrounding joint collapse making it unable to use your joints. The time between the initial symptoms and bone collapse can range from several months to more than a year.

Why early detection is necessary with AVN

Primary concern is if the disease progresses to the stage in which the bone dies and collapses, then the only option is a hip replacement.

When avascular necrosis of the hip is diagnosed at the onset stage, core depression can sometimes successfully prevent the collapse of the femoral head. If your hip, knee, or ankle is affected, you may need crutches to take weight off the damaged joint. Untreated avascular necrosis also causes bone to lose its smooth shape, potentially leading to severe arthritis.

Treatment goals for AVN are to improve the joint, stop the bone damage, and ease pain.

An ailing hip can make doing the things you love uncomfortable or even impossible. Persistent hip pain could signal something more severe. The symptoms may point to a worn-out hip joint, advanced osteoarthritis, or they might indicate another issue.

Here are some warning signs that it’s the right time for hip replacement surgery.

Pain did not respond to other treatments

You’ve tried these hip pain treatment options and they didn’t give you enough relief:

• Pain medicines
• Anti-inflammatory drugs or shots
• Physical therapy
• Exercise
• Weight loss

At one point these conservative measures become less effective and fail to provide relief. When that happens, your orthopedic surgeon may suggest hip replacement surgery.

Daily life isn’t easy due to hip pain and hip disability

Whether you need a hip replacement surgery or not mainly depends on how much your injured hip affects your daily life. Even if you manage the pain somehow, significant hip disability can make your routine tasks difficult or impossible. You may find hard or painful to:

• Walk
• Stand up
• Sit down
• Bend over
• Climb stairs
• Putting your shoes or socks
• Standing on one leg even with assistance or balance

Your hip hurts also when you are not moving or even while lying in bed.

Joint pain is wearing you down emotionally and mentally

Chronic joint pain can also take a toll on a patient’s emotional and mental well-being. You’re cranky or irritable most of the time, or you have symptoms of depression like:

• Feel sad or hopeless
• Lost interest in things you loved once
• Can’t sleep or sleep too much
• Feel tired all the time
• Feel stressed or anxious
• Put on weight or lost weight

Diagnosis revealed advanced arthritis or significant joint damage

Significant joint damage caused by arthritis or other joint conditions can create inflammation, causing the cartilage to wear away. Without cartilage, there’s no cushion between the bones rubbing together, and they begin to wear down. Advanced cases of joint damage may make surgery necessary.

Hip pain medications started showing up side effects

NSAIDs and other types of pain medication your doctor prescribes are relatively safe when used for a short amount of time. However, side effects can develop with prolonged use, including:

• Stomach irritation
• Ulcers
• Increased risk of stroke, blood clots and heart attack
• And more

If you’re dealing with adverse symptoms associated with hip pain and damage, it might be the right time that you need a hip replacement surgery.

If you are looking for a hip replacement surgeon in Ahmedabad, contact for an appointment.

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Knee replacement surgery shouldn’t be taken lightly rather it is a major event in the life of every patient undergoing surgery. Dr. Rachit Sheth, an orthopedic surgeon in Ahmedabad with an expertise in knee replacement surgery, explains what you need to know about the procedure.

The need of knee replacement surgery

The need for a knee replacement surgery is the need to improve one’s quality of life. When you have a gnawing pain and discomfort that affects your quality of life on a regular basis you need surgery.

When cartilage inside the knee joint starts to break down, a person may begin to experience pain. If you have tried all other forms of non-operative treatment including lifestyle changes, medications, physical therapy and injections, and you have no relief from the pain, it might be the right time to think about knee replacement surgery.

An orthopedic surgeon will carry out a thorough examination and make a recommendation. It might also be beneficial to get a second opinion. When you are recommended a total knee replacement surgery, you will have a lot of questions. Here, we’ve tried to address the most common questions about total knee replacement surgery.

Common Questions About Total Knee Replacement Surgery

To make a consultation appointment with Dr. Rachit Sheth, drop us a message or give us a call.