5 Reasons to Avoid Knee Replacement
If you’re considering knee replacement surgery – even if you’ve already scheduled a procedure – it’s very important you understand the 5 big reasons you should actually avoid knee replacement surgery.
The first reason may surprise you, but you need to know the answer to the question of…
WHO “WINS” FROM YOUR SURGERY?
Surgery has become big business these days. It generates a lot of dollars for the surgeon – especially if they make their money solely per surgery they perform.
Sadly, many surgeries are recommended because it’s best for the surgeon’s business, and NOT necessarily because it’s best for you long-term.
Here’s how to ensure your interests are being looked after:
Before any surgery you need multiple opinions. By consulting multiple sources you will have a better chance of educating yourself on the latest advancements in medicine, surgery and alternative procedures.
Surgery could be a life changing experience, so it’s worth taking time, giving it great thought and getting complete understanding of all your options before allowing a surgeon to place an implant into your knee.
So aside from any private surgeon, you should also consult with an academic surgeon and a knee pain specialist.
Academic surgeons work for a university and are paid a salary that is not based on the number of surgeries they perform. This allows them to be impartial to the surgery and focus on what’s best for you, the patient.
Knee pain specialists use the latest advancements in medical knowledge to eliminate your knee pain safely and naturally, so you can get back to living the life you deserve.
Next, it’s important you know…
THE REAL RECOVERY TIME FROM YOUR SURGERY
You need to be very clear how long it will take for your knee to get back to normal function, or if “normal” function can even be achieved.
If you’re older, or severely overweight, you may need to stay at a rehab center away from home so they can monitor you while they put you through rigorous daily stretches and workouts.
And once you’re home, and on your own, you have months of strengthening exercises, stretching and tenderness in your knee before you approach anything close to “normal” function.
If you’re used to a certain pace and lifestyle, surgery of this magnitude can cramp one’s lifestyle and throw off the regular rhythm of daily activities for weeks or months at a time – and that’s IF there are no complications.
If surgery can be avoided and replaced with alternative approaches, precious time can be saved.
Along with the time it takes for recovery, an often-overlooked byproduct of surgery is the very real fact that…
YOU LOSE YOUR INDEPENDENCE
For months after your surgery you will suffer from a major loss of independence. Some folks require long-term help to put underwear, pants and socks on every day.
Patients are often shocked at how greatly this loss of independence affects them.
The inability to care for yourself can be very embarrassing and demoralizing. Sometimes after surgery, patients withdraw from friends and family and even become depressed.
Think about it… We strive our entire lives to have the freedom and independence to go and do what we want: Jump in the car and go visit your friend… or walk up the steps to get to the movie theater… or do anything we’d like, whenever we’d like…
And in a day, a total knee replacement surgery takes that away from you, and you don’t get it back for months.
And that’s not even the worst part. A loss of independence will seem like a godsend if you’re one of the many people who suffer…
DEADLY SURGICAL COMPLICATIONS AND HARMFUL SIDE EFFECTS
Here is a partial list of the potentially harmful side effects of knee replacement surgery according to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons:
Infection…Blood clots… Implant problems… Continued pain… Neurovascular injury…
Infection may occur in the wound or deep around the prosthesis. It may happen while in the hospital or after you go home – it may even occur years later.
Major or deep infections may require more surgery and removal of the prosthesis. And be warned, any infection in your body can spread to your joint replacement.
Blood clots in the leg veins are one of the most common complications of knee replacement surgery. These clots can be life-threatening if they break free and travel to your lungs.
Your orthopedic surgeon will outline a prevention program, which may include periodic elevation of your legs, lower leg exercises to increase circulation, support stockings, and medication to thin your blood.
Implant problems can occur after your surgery.
While it’s true that implant designs and materials, as well as surgical techniques, continue to advance, implant surfaces may wear down and the components may loosen.
Additionally, although an average of 115° of motion is generally anticipated after surgery, scarring of your knee can occur after surgery.
The scarring can limit your range of motion to well below what you’re hoping for, particularly if you suffered from limited motion before surgery.
Another thing to consider is that, while rare, knee replacement surgeries can leave you in a state of Continued Pain.
Further, injury to the nerves or blood vessels around the knee (Neurovascular injury) can occur during surgery.
And there are numerous lawsuits against medical device manufactures claiming the metal implants have caused damage.
Aside from the negatives, there are positive reasons for avoiding knee replacement surgery. They are the…
SAFE AND NATURAL ALTERNATIVES TO KNEE REPLACEMENT
The great thing about the alternatives to knee replacement is that they are historically proven.
These procedures have not been working for longer than “traditional” medicine like a total knee replacement…
Believe it or not the first total knee replacement surgery was done in 1968…not even 50 years ago!
Contrast that with alternative medical procedures like Acupuncture that has been around for 3000 years… Or Homeopathy that has been successfully used for over 200 years… Or Chiropractic, which is over 100 years old… and finally the “baby” of the group: Physical Therapy has been in practice for nearly 80 years.
And Physical Therapy has shown some great results with chronic knee pain caused by arthritis.
The knees were designed to move, not stay bent for long periods of inactivity, and Physical Therapy helps you get your knees moving.
A word of caution if you’re choosing your Physical Therapist and Physical Therapy clinic:
NOT all Physical Therapy is the same. It is very important, again, to look at the motivating factors of the clinic ownership.
You see, many physicians own and operate their own Physical Therapy department. While this may be “convenient,” it causes a potential conflict of interest.
There is no incentive for a Physical Therapist to work hard for you and find ways to save clients from surgery, because his boss – the surgeon – would be losing out on business.
Of course there are many good Physical Therapist that work for surgeons but I strongly believe that a Physical Therapist should be working for you to always get the best results.
While this practice is legal in most states it doesn’t mean it is in your best interest. It just makes it clear that the AMA is a powerful organization that is not always looking out for you.
Along with Physical Therapy, Viscosupplementation is an amazing alternative procedure that helps lubricate rusty knee joints.
In an arthritic knee, the fluid has “dried up” allowing the cartilage to breakdown which cause pain, swelling and damage to the knee joint.
To treat this, Hyaluronic acid can be injected directly into your knee joint to mimic the lubricating substance (synovial fluid) that occurs naturally in your knee.
Think of this treatment as applying oil to a squeaky hinge so the door can move freely again.
Interestingly, this Viscosupplementation is covered by Medicare and most other major medical insurance companies but ONLY for the knee joint – which is great news for you.
And remember, this a supplement, not a medication like cortisone, so there are rarely any harmful side effects.
As you now know, avoiding total knee replacement surgery is possible.
The first step is awareness of the potential complications and ensuing lifestyle changes. But most important is the awareness of alternative procedures.
For more alternatives to knee replacement, as well as tips to get you out of your immediate knee pain, download this free report I wrote for you >>
Dr. Paris is one of the the founders of what has rapidly become one of the biggest and innovative Private Integrative Practices the US. He also appears regularly on the radio and television talking about the health of the nation and offering fitness tips and advice to listeners and viewers.
- Knees Hurt? Here’s How To Tour D.C. Pain-Free… - February 3, 2017
- The Top 3 Myths About Knee Replacement - February 3, 2017
- 5 Reasons to Avoid Knee Replacement - February 3, 2017