Understanding What Your Health Clinic Offers

Posted on: 17 September 2021

If your doctor has recommended that you have a joint replaced, you might be a bit apprehensive about the surgery. It is, after all, a major surgery to endure, and it also comes with quite a long recovery time. But the more you know, the more comfortable you'll become with the procedure. So, here are some things you might be surprised to learn about joint replacement.

Your joint should last about 20 years.

You may have an older relative in your life who had a joint replacement and then needed a new joint just a few years later. But replacement joints have come a long way in the past few decades. Today's replacement joints last about 20 years. If you're careful to limit high-impact activities, and if your surgeon is experienced and does a to-notch job, it might even last longer. So, try not to worry too much about the need to have your artificial joint replaced again someday. That's a long way off.

You'll go home quite quickly.

You might imagine staying in the hospital for weeks on end after such a major surgery, but actually, most people only stay in the hospital for a few days. It's important for you to get up and move around post-surgery, and patients tend to do more of that at home. So, as soon as your surgeon is sure you're stable and able to do things like use the bathroom independently, you'll be released. If you don't have someone to care for you at home, then you may need to spend a few more days in a rehab facility before returning home on your own.

You'll be able to use the joint very soon.

Patients often have this misconception that they'll have to wait a while before using their new joint. There is definitely a lot of healing that has to take place before you'll have full use of the joint. However, you will be able to use the new joint almost right away. In fact, your doctor will encourage it, as using the joint helps enhance blood flow and support healing. Your physical therapist will guide you through beginning to use the joint to ensure you're as comfortable as possible.

Now that you know a bit more about joint replacement and how it works, you should be better equipped to deal with it. Talk to your doctor if you have any additional concerns.