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hip

Knee and Hip Replacement Facts

by allurewellness February 3, 2017

written by allurewellness

Years prior, joint replacement surgery was considered a high-tech procedure.

Nowadays, it is already considered a common operation.

In fact, in the US alone, statistic indicate that more than a million hips and knees have been replaced yearly.

While the figure is relatively high, it is actually not surprising.

Given the procedure is right for you, hip and knee replacement can be truly life-changing.

Statistics show that a staggering 90 percent of individuals who have had joint replacement surgery notice a dramatic change in terms of mobility and pain relief.

When is hip and knee replacement truly required?

Facts To Know About Knee and Hip Replacement

There are several key factors surgeons take into consideration to determine candidates for joint replacement surgery.

Some of the factors include:

Pain and stiffness – joint replacement is considered a likely option for those who experience excruciating pain and are no longer able to carry out routine activities like walking, getting up from a chair, or climbing the stairs, among others.

Deformity – joint replacement surgery is a probability when the affected leg becomes severely swollen or bowed.

Bone damage – when there is severe joint damage due to osteoarthritis and other conditions, joint replacement might be required.

Poor life quality – aside from the pain, surgeons would need to consider if the joint issue has already affected the patient’s quality of life. If it already limits the patient’s movements or causes them to be depressed or grumpy, then joint replacement might be necessary.

Even in cases where all of the requirements for joint replacement surgery has been met, certain factors still need to be taken into consideration to truly gauge if the procedure is indeed the right option.

Ask yourself the following questions to help accurately gauge if you have made the right decision:

Am I willing to make the necessary adjustments/changes?

Achieving the optimum results entails dedication to making the right changes. In other words, you need to become disciplined in terms of losing any excess weight, exercising more, eating healthier, and adapting a healthier lifestyle in general.

Do I have someone to help me out while I’m recovering?

Recovering from joint surgery without help would be extra challenging, if not totally impossible.

For starters, you would need assistance doing just the basics alone—moving around, getting dressed, preparing food, changing the bandages, among other things—especially during the first few weeks.

If you don’t have family members or close friends helping you out, consider checking for rehab facilities you can check in at least while you are recovering.

Have I tried all the other conventional options?

While deemed safe and effective, there are still certain risks involved in joint replacement injuries, much like any other surgeries.

In addition, recovery time can definitely take a lot of months.

Ideally, it would be best to exhaust all other conventional and noninvasive options before considering surgery.

While no doubt life-changing, joint replacement surgery might not be the ideal treatment recourse in all scenarios.

For instance, the procedure is not exactly a good alternative given the following scenarios:

Infection – if patient has suffered from a recent body infection, joint replacement is not a viable option. Understandably, caution should be exercised in order to prevent the infection from spreading to the joint area after the surgery. In cases where the infection spreads, it might result to more serious concerns and might even require additional surgery.

Pain cause – surgeons will have to make sure the pain is really secondary to joint damage and not anything else. Bear in mind that there are hip and knee issues that joint replacement surgery will not fix.

Other medical issues – if patient has a history of uncontrolled diabetes, strokes, or heart attacks, complication risk becomes relatively higher.

Hip and knee replacement is not for everyone. To know if it is the best treatment intervention for your case, visit www.bjios.sg now.

February 3, 2017 0 comment

Hip and Knee Replacement: Questions You Should Ask

by allurewellness February 3, 2017

written by allurewellness

Many years ago, joint replacement surgery was deemed a high-tech procedure.

Nowadays however, it’s already considered ordinary.

In fact, on a yearly basis, surgeons replace more than a million hips and knees.

And that statistics is in the United States alone.

The staggering number of joint replacement surgery performed is actually not surprising taking into account the benefits (improved mobility and significant pain relief) hip and knee replacement surgeries offer.

For the right patients, hip and knee replacement can be a highly beneficial and life-changing procedure.

Hip Replacement

The procedure carried out to remove the hip joint’s damaged parts is called hip replacement.

Those with ankylosing spondylitis, rheumatoid arthritis, and severe osteoarthritis are some of the possible candidates for hip replacement surgery.

Patients suffering from hip fractures secondary to osteoporosis are also likely candidates. In majority of the cases however, the procedure is performed to remedy joint damage.

The extent of hip replacement will depend on the severity of the joint damage.

Akin to knee replacement, the procedure is only resorted to when all other conventional and nonsurgical treatments have offered little to no relief.

Otherwise referred to as hip arthroplasty, hip replacement surgery becomes the likely resort when the pain becomes too severe and starts interfering with the patient’s typical day-to-day routines.

Knee Replacement

Hip and Knee Replacement

Individuals suffering from osteoarthritis are often the likely candidates for knee replacement surgery.

Oftentimes, the knee is the most affected body part as it bears the body’s weight.

Just like hip replacement surgery, the procedure is only performed when all other conservative treatment options have failed.

Just like other surgeries, knee replacement also comes with certain risks.

Some of the common risks include:

Infection
Heart attacks
Stroke
Blood clots (in the leg veins or lungs)
Nerve damage

Knee replacement surgeries are often performed by orthopedic surgeons.

Before the surgery, the knee’s strength, range of motion, and stability will be assessed.

If you are a candidate for joint replacement, below are some of the questions you need to ask:

Is it possible for other treatment alternatives to work?

While deemed safe, it would be best to remember that the procedure will still come with certain risks just like any other surgery.

Recovery period can also take several months.

Taking that into account, make sure all other treatment alternatives have been explored before deciding on joint replacement procedure.

Has the procedure been discussed thoroughly by the doctor?

If there are questions about the procedure that you need enlightenment on, it would be best to list them down and ask your doctor to provide insights and enlightenment.

If there are certain doubts that you need discussed, you can get peace of mind by asking your doctor about it.

Also, it is recommended that you ask what the procedure would be like and what you can expect while recuperating.

Have I taken time out to research about the procedure?

Apart from the information your doctor or surgeon will provide, it would be wise to also do your own research so you’ll have all the bases covered and you’ll know the ins and outs of what you will be getting yourself into.

Look for reliable websites so you are sure you are sure the information you will be getting is as accurate as possible.

Better yet, it would be best to visit www.bjios.sg to check the best treatment route for your case.

February 3, 2017 0 comment

Body injury surgery

Facts About Hip and Knee Replacement

by allurewellness February 1, 2017

written by allurewellness

Once considered high-tech, joint replacement has now become very common.

In fact, statistics show that more than one million hip and knee replacement surgeries are performed annually.

And that’s in the United States alone.

Undoubtedly, the popularity of the procedure can be attributed primarily to its life-changing attributes.

Studies indicate that a staggering 90 percent of individuals who have had joint replacement surgery experience enhanced mobility and significant pain relief.

When is hip and knee replacement necessary?

There are certain key elements surgeons take into consideration before joint replacement surgery is considered.

Some of the key elements include:

Poor quality of life – aside from the pain it causes, doctors would need to gauge if the joint problem is already affecting the patient’s quality of life. Is the patient’s mood affected? Is the patient limited by the condition?
Pain and stiffness – for patients who experience severe pain and are no longer able to carry out routine day-to-day activities (i.e. getting up from the chair, climbing, walking, etc.), joint replacement surgery is often the likely course of treatment.
Deformity – when the leg becomes severely bowed or swollen, joint replacement will be recommended.
Bone damage – when there is severe bone damage due to osteoarthritis or other conditions, joint replacement becomes the primary option.

However, even if patients are able to meet all the necessary requirements, other factors would need to be considered to further assess if surgery is indeed the best option.

To help determine if surgery is the best treatment route, the following questions should be asked:

Have all the other less invasive treatment options been exhausted?

Without doubt, joint replacement injuries are not only common nowadays, they are also known to be highly safe and effective.

However, just like any other surgeries, they come with certain risks.

Recovery can also take several months.

As a general rule of thumb, it is ideal to exhaust all the other nonsurgical options first and consider surgery as the last resort.

Is the patient willing to make the necessary changes?

In order to achieve the maximum result, patients who undergo joint replacement surgery would need to be dedicated and focused on making the necessary changes after the surgery

In order to achieve the maximum result, patients who undergo joint replacement surgery would need to be dedicated and focused on making the necessary changes after the surgery.

In other words, they need to be prepared to lead a healthier lifestyle—losing the excess pounds, eating healthier, and exercising more.

Are there people who can help the patient while recovering?

Recovering from joint surgery without any help can be extra challenging, if not impossible.

At the very least, help will be needed in food preparation, wound dressing, and getting dressed.

Help should be available, especially the first few weeks after the surgery.

If there are no family members or close friends available to help, it would be best for the patient to first check for rehab facilities they can check in after the surgery.

Doing so will help ensure they’d have the needed help they need while recovering.

Although joint replacement is a treatment option readily available, it is not the best treatment course under the following scenarios:

Infection – for patients who have had recent body infections, joint replacement surgery is not advised. This is done to ensure infection does not spread to other areas after the surgery. When the infection spreads, it might result to more serious issue that might even require further surgery.
Other health issues – patients with a history of uncontrolled diabetes, heart attack, or stroke are not advised to have joint replacement surgery as their complication risk is relatively higher. Patients who are obese are also required to lose the excess pounds prior to the surgery.
Cause of pain – understandably, surgeons need to make sure the source of pain is really the joint damage. Bear in mind that there are other likely reasons for hip or knee pain or damage that surgery cannot fix.

Not sure if hip or knee replacement is ideal in your case? Get expert help from the able specialists at www.bjios.sg now.

February 1, 2017 0 comment

While now a common procedure, years ago, joint replacement was once considered high-tech

Body injury surgery

Hip and Knee Replacement: When is it Necessary?

by allurewellness January 31, 2017

written by allurewellness

While now a common procedure, years ago, joint replacement was once considered high-tech.

In the United States alone, surgeons perform the procedure more than a million times each year.

The staggering figure can be attributed to the enhanced mobility and pain relief only hip and knee replacement surgeries can offer.

Undoubtedly, for the right candidates, hip and knee replacement can be a life altering procedure.

However, surgery is not always the treatment option for those who are suffering from hip or knee pain.

Knee Replacement

Oftentimes, the most likely candidates for knee replacement surgery are those patients who are suffering from osteoarthritis

Oftentimes, the most likely candidates for knee replacement surgery are those patients who are suffering from osteoarthritis.

Understandably, the condition is common in the knees as it bears the weight of the body.

The procedure will be the treatment option resorted to only after all other conventional alternatives have been exhausted.

Just like many major surgical procedures, knee replacement also has certain risks.

Some of the risks include but are not limited to the following:

Heart attacks
Stroke
Infection
Nerve damage
Blood clots (in the lungs or leg veins)

The surgery will be performed by an orthopedic surgeon.

Prior to the surgery, physical examination will be performed to assess the stability, strength, and the range of motion of the knee.

Hip Replacement

In essence, hip replacement is the surgical procedure carried out to remove the hip joint’s damaged parts.

If all other conventional treatment alternatives have proved futile, hip replacement surgery becomes the likely option.

Patients with severe osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis are often likely candidates for the procedure.

Extent of the hip replacement however will be based on the severity of the joint damage.

For those individuals with hip fractures due to osteoporosis, hip replacement is also the likely treatment option.

Oftentimes, the most common reason for the procedure can be attributed to damage brought about by arthritis.

Also known as total hip arthroplasty, hip replacement surgery is often considered the best treatment approach when pain has become so severe and it already interferes with the patient’s day-to-day routine.

Preparation

For individuals who are candidates for hip or knee replacement, asking the right questions is deemed an integral part of the preparation.

If you are a candidate for joint replacement, the following questions should make it to your list:

Is surgery the best treatment alternative available for my case?

Do I have other treatment choices?
After the surgery, how far can I walk without experiencing any pain?
Is surgery the best option for someone my age?
Can I still participate in any sports (i.e. golf, tennis, swimming, etc.) that I enjoy?

What can I do to help ensure the procedure is a resounding success?

Will I be taught muscle strengthening exercises?
Is it recommended that I lose weight before the procedure?
Will it be necessary to learn how to utilize crutches/walker before the surgery?

What home preparations do I need to do?

Do I have to do any rearranging?
What are some of the effective ways I can ensure safety at home?
How much is the extent of help I will be needing?

What are the potential risks and complications of the procedure?

Will blood transfusion be necessary before or after?
What can I do to help minimize the risks?
Which medical conditions (i.e. heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, etc.) have to be monitored?

What is the procedure like?

How long will the surgery last?
How soon after the procedure can I commence with my routine activities?
How long will the hospital stay be?

What preparations am I expected to do the night before the procedure?

When do I stop eating or drinking?
What are the essentials I need to bring?
Are there medications I am supposed to take prior to the procedure?

Joint replacement is not the ideal treatment option for everyone. To know if it is appropriate for your case, visit www.bjios.sg right away.

January 31, 2017 0 comment

Body bone health injury

Hip and Knee Replacement: When is It Needed?

by allurewellness January 19, 2017

written by allurewellness

Even if once considered a “high-tech” procedure, joint replacement is now deemed very common.

Statistics indicate that at least more than a million hips and knees are replaced annually.

And that statistic is in the United States alone.

While the figures are no doubt staggering, it is not exactly surprising.

For the right candidates, hip and knee replacement can be a life-altering procedure.

When is the procedure necessary?

While often considered the last resort, hip and knee replacement is deemed the best alternative when the following factors are present:

When there is pain and stiffness – it might be time for a new joint when the patient experiences difficulty walking, getting up from a chair, climbing the stairs, and doing routine activities. Also, if pain has persisted for more than 6 months already, a joint replacement surgery might be the best alternative.
When it affects the patient’s quality of life – apart from the pain, another key element that needs to be factored in is if the condition already has a significant impact on the patient’s daily routine. Is it limiting what the patient can do? Does it affect the patient’s mood? Does it impact how they go about their day-to-day routine?
When there is damage to the bone – X-rays alongside other imaging tests can be used to check if osteoarthritis or any other medical condition has taken a toll on the patient’s joints.
When there is obvious deformity – when the patient’s leg has become bowed or the knees have become severely swollen, joint replacement surgery will be the likely treatment option.
When other treatment alternatives have become futile – when all the other non-invasive treatment options (injections, medications, devices) have been exhausted, surgery becomes the likely option.

What key elements should be considered?

Even for those who are perfect candidates for hip or joint replacement surgery, it is still necessary that the following key questions are addressed:

Has the possible impact of the procedure already been considered?

The likely effects of surgery on the patient’s life and job should be taken into account.

When necessary, talking to family members and friends will be encouraged so assistance is available while patient is recovering.

Have other perspectives been taken into account?

Just like any surgeries that are major, getting a second opinion would be recommended.

This is especially true for those patients who have any doubts if the procedure is the best recourse possible.

Has the procedure been discussed with the surgeon?

For likely candidates, it is important that the specifics about the procedure will be discussed thoroughly.

If patient has any doubts and queries, they should not think twice about discussing it with their surgeon.

Asking for enlightenment regarding the procedure and what the recovery would be like is also advisable.

Has proper research been carried out?

There are different kinds of joint replacement procedures so doing research and reading up on the matter is recommended.

There are a lot of reliable websites that can provide essential information on the matter so candidates for surgery will have a clear idea of what they will be getting themselves into.

Is there assistance available while recovering?

Recovering from joint surgery when living alone can be very challenging.

For the first few weeks after the procedure, help will be necessary when preparing food, getting dressed, changing the bandage, and moving around.

If no family members or friends will be around to provide assistance, finding a facility where they can rehabilitate would be ideal.

What necessary changes do candidates for surgery need to do?

In order to ensure the best results are achieved, candidates should be willing to commit and work hard prior and post-surgery.

Patients need to also be aware that significant lifestyle need to be made like losing weight, exercising more, quitting smoking, and eating healthier, among other things.

If you think you are a candidate for joint replacement surgery, please visit www.bjios.sg.

January 19, 2017 0 comment