How to Treat Arthritis Through Surgery

By eHow Health Editor

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Joint-replacement surgery is the only definitive way to eliminate arthritis in a joint. In recent years, this surgery has seen many advancements that have made it an excellent option for more arthritis patients than ever before. A greater variety of joints can now be replaced and the replacements last for decades. Learn how to treat arthritis through surgery.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Step1

Consult with your rheumatologist about the condition of your joints. He or she will be able to tell you whether any of your joints are bad enough to warrant surgery, as well as whether you are a good candidate for the kind of surgery you are considering.

Step2

Get an MRI. This diagnostic test will show the condition of your bad joint in great detail.

Step3

Take your MRI results to an orthopedic surgeon. The surgeon will go over the MRI with you and let you know if he or she thinks replacing the joint is the best option to treat the arthritis. If there are alternatives to surgery that may help, the surgeon will inform you of these as well.

Step4

Schedule the surgery. It is usually advisable to schedule your surgery several weeks or months in advance. This will give you time to get yourself in peak physical condition to undergo surgery and to make arrangements for someone to help around the house while you recover.

Step5

Make arrangements for physical therapy; you will need 2 to 3 months of this, at a minimum, after your operation. Some patients go to a rehab hospital for the duration of their physical therapy. Others arrange for therapists to visit them in their homes while some go out to visit a physical therapy center several times a week.

Tips & Warnings

Even though modern joint replacements can easily last 20 to 30 years, they will eventually need to be repaired or replaced with new ones. This might not be so much of an issue for someone getting a joint replacement at age 70 or 80. However, younger patients should keep this eventuality in mind when deciding whether to undergo joint-replacement surgery.
Joint-replacement surgery involves removing the damaged parts of a joint and replacing them with metal and plastic parts. As you will have metal implants in you after the surgery, you will set off metal detectors in airports and courthouses. Be prepared to have to take off your shoes and be checked every time you pass through a metal detector.