Total Knee Replacement & You
Have you tried everything to get some relief from your knee pain? If you are no stranger to braces, canes, cortisone injections, and other methods of dealing with knee pain, yet you still have knee pain, you may want to consider total knee replacement. This successful, time-tested method of eliminating knee pain and returning mobility may be exactly what you need.
When you are having problems with stair climbing, walking, standing up, sitting down, and even resting comfortably, you know the time has come to make some real decisions regarding the relief of your knee pain.
Total knee replacement surgery is one of the most popular surgeries in the world for good reason. This technique has been around since 1968. It was a boon for orthopedic surgery when it first came into use, and it has only improved in every way since that time. With modern techniques and top-of-the-line materials, over 581,000 patients a year are able to find relief from knee pain in the U.S.
Have you spoken with your orthopedic surgeon about knee replacement yet, or are you just starting to think about it? Either way, you are sure to find useful information in this article.
Click here for more on total knee surgery.
How Is The Knee Put Together?
Made up of three main components, the knees are the largest joint in the body. The main components of the knee are three bones, the thigh bone (femur) the shin bone (tibia) and the knee cap (patella). In addition to being the largest joint, the knee is also the easiest joint to injure.
Four ligaments attach the femur and tibia and support and stabilize the knee. They are the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments and the medial and lateral collateral ligaments.
The muscles of the thigh also play a strong part in the strength and stability of the knee. Strong thigh muscles mean strong knees.
Articular cartilage forms a pad between the bones of the knee. This pad keeps the bones separated and allows them to move without grinding against each other. With this smooth cushioning your knee can move smoothly and easily. Additionally, the knee comes equipped with natural shock absorbers called the lateral menisci. These are semicircular, fibrous cartilage rings that add stability to the overall structure.
Over all of this structure lies the synovial membrane. This is a smooth, thin tissue that lines the interior surfaces of healthy knees. It produces a lubricant that keeps everything running smoothly and painlessly in healthy knees.
The parts of the knee should work together to provide decades of trouble free service. Unfortunately, the knees are delicately balanced. If anything happens to throw that balance off - an injury or illness for example - the result can be loss of function, muscle weakness, and pain.
The usual candidate for total knee replacement surgery is between the ages of sixty and eighty; however, this is not always the case. Many very young patients and many very old patients have also had successful knee replacement surgery for everything from juvenile arthritis to degenerative arthritis to injury. When your orthopedic surgeon evaluates your case, he or she will look more at your pain and your loss of mobility than at your age. - 23211
When you are having problems with stair climbing, walking, standing up, sitting down, and even resting comfortably, you know the time has come to make some real decisions regarding the relief of your knee pain.
Total knee replacement surgery is one of the most popular surgeries in the world for good reason. This technique has been around since 1968. It was a boon for orthopedic surgery when it first came into use, and it has only improved in every way since that time. With modern techniques and top-of-the-line materials, over 581,000 patients a year are able to find relief from knee pain in the U.S.
Have you spoken with your orthopedic surgeon about knee replacement yet, or are you just starting to think about it? Either way, you are sure to find useful information in this article.
Click here for more on total knee surgery.
How Is The Knee Put Together?
Made up of three main components, the knees are the largest joint in the body. The main components of the knee are three bones, the thigh bone (femur) the shin bone (tibia) and the knee cap (patella). In addition to being the largest joint, the knee is also the easiest joint to injure.
Four ligaments attach the femur and tibia and support and stabilize the knee. They are the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments and the medial and lateral collateral ligaments.
The muscles of the thigh also play a strong part in the strength and stability of the knee. Strong thigh muscles mean strong knees.
Articular cartilage forms a pad between the bones of the knee. This pad keeps the bones separated and allows them to move without grinding against each other. With this smooth cushioning your knee can move smoothly and easily. Additionally, the knee comes equipped with natural shock absorbers called the lateral menisci. These are semicircular, fibrous cartilage rings that add stability to the overall structure.
Over all of this structure lies the synovial membrane. This is a smooth, thin tissue that lines the interior surfaces of healthy knees. It produces a lubricant that keeps everything running smoothly and painlessly in healthy knees.
The parts of the knee should work together to provide decades of trouble free service. Unfortunately, the knees are delicately balanced. If anything happens to throw that balance off - an injury or illness for example - the result can be loss of function, muscle weakness, and pain.
The usual candidate for total knee replacement surgery is between the ages of sixty and eighty; however, this is not always the case. Many very young patients and many very old patients have also had successful knee replacement surgery for everything from juvenile arthritis to degenerative arthritis to injury. When your orthopedic surgeon evaluates your case, he or she will look more at your pain and your loss of mobility than at your age. - 23211
About the Author:
Dr. Tarlow is a Board Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon with over 20 years specializing in knee surgery. He opened his own clinic, Advanced Knee Care, with a focus on specialty patient care. Click here to learn more about Dr. Tarlow, orthopaedics and ACL reconstruction.
posted by X - Men @ 4:42 AM
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