Knee Joint Replacement

Do I Need A Knee Replacement?

Knee joint replacements are most commonly carried out to treat advanced osteoarthritis of the knee. This is when the cartilage lining the joint becomes damaged and wears away, causing pain and limiting function.

The knee joint is where the ends of the thigh and shin bone meet. Each bone is lined with cartilage which allows them to glide smoothly over each other.

With osteoarthritis, the cartilage thins and the bone underneath begins to thicken laying down new bony spurs, called osteophytes. As arthritis progresses, the cartilage can wear away altogether and you get bone rubbing on bone.  

Arthritis pain can end up so severe that normal daily activities such as walking and going down stairs become extremely painful and difficult. The knee can even become deformed. When this happens, the best course of action is knee joint replacement.

Indications for Knee Replacement

People are often unsure at what stage of arthritis surgery is appropriate. There are no hard and fast rules but the following criteria are a good guideline:

• The pain is affecting your normal daily activities e.g. walking, stairs
• The pain is affecting your sleep e.g. frequently keeps you awake or wakes you up
• You have tried exercises to strengthen your knee for a reasonable period with no effect
• You are in severe pain

If your symptoms are not as severe as these, a knee joint replacement is probably not needed and other treatment methods are more appropriate.  

Some people worry about leaving it too long before having a knee replacement. Rest assured, there is no need to worry. Arthritis does not get to a stage where it is so bad that the surgery can’t be performed, so there is no harm in waiting.

However, if by waiting you are losing lots of strength in your muscles from not being able to keep active, it is likely to take you longer to recover after surgery. Visit the Arthritis section to find out more including treatment options for arthritis.

Types Of Knee Joint Replacement

Knee joint replacements were first carried out in the 1940’s and have developed significantly since then. There are two types of knee  replacement: 

1. Partial Knee Replacement

You can even watch video footage of knee replacement surgery so you can see exactly what goes on!

But let's start by looking at the indications and alternatives to knee replacement surgery. We will the go on to look at what happens during surgery, the rehab process, common problems associated with surgery and the recovery process. 

Alternatives to Surgery

If treatment is not working anymore, there are some simpler operations that can be effective:

1. Knee Arthroscopy: Key-hole surgery where damaged parts of cartilage are removed
2. Osteotomy: Where a small amount of diseased bone is removed

You can find out more about the surgery itself, the rehab and recovery process, common problems associated with knee replacements and frequently asked questions by clicking the appropriate link below, depending on which type of surgery you are interested in:

Find Out More

You can find out loads more about total knee replacements and partial knee replacements in our dedicated sections, including what happens during surgery, the recovery process, common problems and answers to frequently asked questions regarding knee replacements.

You can also check out our book Knee Arthritis: Take Back Control. It is the top rated book on Knee Arthritis on Amazon with an average user review rating of 4.4/5.  It's packed full of great information from exercises to knee replacements and everything in between.  A perfect guide for anyone who is having a knee joint replacement

Page Last Updated: 11/01/23
Next Review Due: 11/01/25

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