When we’re young, we tend to take our bodies for granted. Those of us who enjoy active lifestyles especially tend to think we’ll be able to enjoy all the activities we love for as long as we like - or if we do think about arthritis, it’s in some far-distant future time or something that we assume affects other people, but not us.

So when those first signs and symptoms of knee arthritis start showing up, often our first reaction is to deny them. “I ran too much yesterday.” “I didn’t warm up enough before that last tennis match.” “I must have wrenched my knee during that golf game yesterday.” Maybe we take some pain medication or apply ice packs more frequently than we used to. And maybe we notice those painful symptoms don’t go away entirely - or come back with the next round of activity. But often, we try to deny the underlying cause of our symptoms - osteoarthritis - for as long as possible. And that’s only natural; after all, no one wants to think their body is undergoing an irreversible change that could, in turn, have irreversible implications for their lifestyle and the activities that mean so much to them.

When to Get a Knee Replacement

The problem with denying arthritis or delaying care indefinitely is that the disease is progressive, which means your symptoms are almost certainly going to get worse with time. Your knee joint forms where your upper leg bone and larger lower leg bone meet. The ends of these bones are covered with a layer of slick, protective cartilage that facilitates normal, pain-free movement.

...when those first signs and symptoms of knee arthritis start showing up, often our first reaction is to deny them. “I ran too much yesterday.” “I didn’t warm up enough before that last tennis match.” “I must have wrenched my knee during that golf game yesterday.”

Osteoarthritis occurs when this protective layer of cartilage breaks down and begins to wear away, usually as a result of years of wear and tear on the joint, but sometimes “enhanced” by an injury or defect in the knee itself. While the early symptoms of arthritis may be relieved, at least to some degree, with pain medicine and therapy, when the cartilage damage becomes severe, these measures will no longer be effective. And that’s typically when knee joint surgery becomes the best option - often the only option - for providing meaningful symptom relief while also allowing you to regain a lot of your lost mobility. Those more advanced symptoms include:

1. Stiffness or grinding sensations in your knee, especially when climbing stairs or stooping
2. Swelling, warmth or redness around the knee joint
3. Severe pain when moving the joint or even when standing still
4. Moderate pain and aching that persists when sitting or lying down
5. Symptoms that persist despite nonsurgical options like injections, physical therapy and lifestyle changes, like weight loss
6. Significant or ongoing loss of mobility due to increasing joint pain and stiffness

Even when we can check off most or all of the six symptoms listed above, we may still be reluctant to consider joint surgery. But at some point, we’ll have to reckon with the psychological and emotional price we’re paying for “living with” osteoarthritis. And that brings us to the seventh symptom - which is often overlooked:

Symptom 7: Reduced Quality of Life

It’s safe to say nobody would choose to have joint surgery - or nearly any surgery - if they could avoid it. It’s tempting to think you can “learn” to live with your painful symptoms by altering your activities and your lifestyle “just a bit.” At first, it’s the “obvious” choices that get eliminated: running, tennis, basketball, long hikes. We accept those changes, and we tell ourselves we’re adjusting.

But as the symptoms become progressively worse, the list of activities grows, and before long, we realize we’ve sacrificed a lot of our enjoyment of life and our own quality of life has suffered - more than we had even noticed along the way! As we become less mobile, we’re more likely to become sad, depressed and isolated. That’s the emotional toll of knee arthritis, and it can be as severe as - or even more damaging than - the physical symptoms of the disease, especially if you’re used to leading a relatively active lifestyle.

How Muve Can Help

Knee replacement surgery has seen huge advances during the past decade. New surgery techniques and improved components can mean a faster recovery for some patients and a more complete return to normal activities, not to mention less discomfort during the post-operative rehab period. One of way to tap into all those advances and benefits is to have knee joint replacement surgery early on, before your debility becomes severe enough to have a major impact on your quality of life.

Muve Health's approach to joint replacement includes an optional 48 hours of protective post-operative oversight in the Muve Suites environment, where on-site physical therapists and around-the-clock care staff will empower you to play a proactive role in your recovery, providing you with the support and tools you need to get back to that active lifestyle you love.

If you’re having symptoms of knee arthritis, having a thorough evaluation with an orthopedic surgeon is the first step toward making sure the treatment you’re receiving is the best option for your needs and your life. If you are ready to hear more about the Muve Health program, or you want to learn more about how to take the next step in scheduling a consultation with me or Dr. Dodgin, who are affiliated orthopedic specialists practicing Total Joint Replacement at Muve Lakeway ASC, connect with us. 

 -E. Matthew Heinrich, M.D.

*Professional services are provided by independent corporations.

**This blog post is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.