Joint Replacement Frisco TX: What You Should Know About Knee Joint Problems

All of the joints in your body are under stress for many reasons, from overwork to congenital misalignment to excess weight gain.  Because your joints are stressed, you can develop pain, swelling and tenderness in any of them that can interfere with your daily life.  And, for a variety of reasons, the pain that develops can’t be managed with pain medication, braces or lifestyle modification.  It’s at this point that you should start thinking about joint replacement Frisco TX.  The knee joint is one of the joints in your body that is most susceptible to deterioration, not only because it is in almost constant use, but because it also bears the weight of your upper body.  The most common cause of knee damage is arthritis.

▪  Osteoarthritis is often called “wear-and-tear arthritis” and occurs when the protective cartilage on the ends of your bones gradually wears down.  When the cartilage completely wears away, the bones in your legs rub directly against each other, causing decreased mobility and pain.  Osteoarthritis is more common in people over the age of 50 but younger people with movement-intensive lifestyles, like athletes, can develop it.

▪  Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the joints and can affect people of any age.  RA can affect every joint in the body but pain in knee joints is usually more severe than pain caused by RA in other joints.

▪  Traumatic arthritis is a result of a serious injury to the knee like a fracture or ligament damage.  The injury causes trauma to the cartilage, which then, over time, develops osteoarthritis.

Some of the symptoms of knee problems that can lead to joint replacement Frisco TX are:

▪  Pain, which can be sudden or develop gradually and is usually associated with the movement of your knee joint.  It can also happen at night when you’re trying to sleep.

▪  Swelling or tenderness, which may come and go in the knee.  The knee joint may even look red and feel warm to the touch.  This is usually more noticeable after you’ve been inactive for a period of time.

▪  Loss of flexibility, whichmeans that you’ll notice that you don’t have a full range of motion for your leg and knee.  In addition, you may notice that your knee buckles – or even locks – from time to time.

▪  A grinding sensation in your knee that is the rough surfaces of the bones at the joint rubbing together.

▪  Bone spurs, which are calcifications that form around a degraded knee joint and can be felt through the skin

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For many people, joint replacement Frisco TX is the only option for treating chronically painful knees.  At Texas Orthopedic Partners, our physicians have many years of experience in diagnosing and treating knee problems.  Visit our website at www.texasorthopartners.com to learn more about knee and joint replacement then call us at 469-287-7179 to make an appointment for a consultation.  Don’t live with knee pain longer than you have to.

joint replacement frisco tx
Frisco Texas Ortho Partners
4401 Coit Rd, Suite 203
Frisco, 75035
469-287-7179

For people suffering from chronic, crippling hip pain, hip replacement surgery may be the only choice for a full, pain-free life.  But choosing hip replacement Frisco TX is just the beginning.  The next step is choosing the best orthopedic surgeon, then preparing for surgery, recuperation and rehabilitation.  For patients and caregivers, part of this process is making the right preparations before surgery so that the post-operative period is as smooth as possible.

1.  Learn as much as you can about the procedure.  Do your homework by finding websites for orthopedic doctors that explain in detail what the surgery will be like and what you should expect.  Ask your doctor as many questions as you need to and, if possible, take someone with you to your doctor’s appointments, especially the appointments right before surgery.  Another person may remember details you forget.

2.  Get help for your recovery period.  Make sure you have friends or family ready to, not only take you to and from surgery, but to stay with you after surgery.  Prepare them for the fact that you will need help for at least a week or two after surgery.

3.  Meet with your physical therapist.  Physical therapy will play an integral part in your full recovery from hip replacement Frisco TX.  Meeting with your physical therapist before surgery will give you some idea of what will happen when therapy begins and the therapist can tell you what you need to do to maintain mobility in your hips in the period right after surgery.

4.  Buy helpful devices.  Get secure handrails for your tub or shower to keep from falling and a long-handled grabber to keep you from having to climb to reach things.  Also helpful will be an apron or a jacket with large pockets for carrying things around the house.  If you become unbalanced, your hands will be free to grab onto something to steady yourself rather than worry over dropping whatever it is you carry.

5.  Stock up on food.   Make sure you have enough food to last at least two weeks.  Try to prepare casseroles or other dishes that can be reheated without much effort.

6.  Prepare your house.  Set up the spot where you will spend most of your recovery time at home and make sure it is on the same floor as a bathroom so that you don’t have to climb stairs..  Set up a table next to a comfortable chair or bed that has remote controls, tissue, medicine, telephone and charger.  Make sure your walker or crutches are close by and remove all tripping hazards like extension cords and small rugs.

Not every eventuality can be planned for when it comes to surgery for hip replacement Frisco TX but there are things you can do that will lessen your anxiety before surgery and ease your recuperation at home.  The most important thing you can do to insure an excellent outcome is to call the physicians at Texas Orthopedic Partners at 469-287-7179 to make an appointment for a consultation.  They will explain everything you need to know about hip replacement from surgery to physical therapy.  Visit www.texasorthopartners.com to learn more.

hip replacement frisco tx
Frisco Texas Ortho Partners
4401 Coit Rd, Suite 203
Frisco, 75035
469-287-7179

Orthopedic Surgeon Frisco TX: What to Expect During and After Knee Replacement Surgery

You’ve had enough. The pain and stiffness in your knee is preventing you from doing the things you love. Even simple tasks such as climbing stairs or walking to get the mail is tasking. After a strong recommendation from your doctor and much thought and consideration on your part, you’ve decided to have your knee replaced by Texas Ortho Partners, orthopedic surgeon Frisco TX. So, what next? What should you expect?

 

What is knee replacement surgery and what happens during surgery?
During knee replacement surgery, surgeons replace damaged cartilage within the joint and replace it with new surfaces. Sometimes only partial joint replacement is necessary, replacing only the inner or outer surfaces of the joint depending on which is damaged.

 

The patient is often put under general anesthesia, which causes you to sleep during the surgery. A regional anesthesia may be used, numbing the area of the surgery and making you sleepy, but conscious. The type of anesthesia depends on your doctor’s choice, your health, and sometimes your preference.

 

What you should expect after surgery?
Your orthopedic surgeon Frisco TX will prescribe antibiotics to reduce infection risk, and will probably prescribe pain medication. You will wake up with your knee bandaged and a drain to keep fluid from building around your knee. Some doctors suggest that you use a continuous passive motion machine (CPM) to keep your knee flexible. The CPM machine slowly straightens and bends your knee.

 

Most patients start to walk with assistance the day of surgery or the following day and many are able to go home within a few days after surgery.

 

What rehabilitation is needed after surgery?
After surgery, a physical therapist will help you work toward the goal of bending your knee at least 90 degrees–which is enough to do daily activities such as walking, stair climbing, and sitting and standing from a chair. Most patients regain more motion than only 90 degrees.

 

Rehab starts while you are still in the hospital and continues after you go home until you have regained your strength and can function more independently without assistance. Your doctor will recommend an exercise program to speed your recovery in addition to your physical therapy.

 

Approximately 450,000 Americans a year have knee replacement surgery which helps them continue with their active lives. You don’t have to live with your knee pain and stiffness any longer! If you haven’t already, contact the orthopedic surgeon Frisco TX at Texas Orthopedic Partners and make an appointment today!

 

http://www.webmd.com/osteoarthritis/surgery-knee-replacement

orthopedic surgeon frisco tx
Frisco Texas Ortho Partners
4401 Coit Rd, Suite 203 
Frisco, 75035
469-287-7179