By Jeri Ward, RN
Question: How do I know when I need to see a doctor regarding a hip/knee replacement?
Answer: Joint pain becomes more common as we become more active and with age. If you have hip or knee pain, there are steps you can take to help resolve it. After taking these steps, if there is no improvement, you should see an orthopedic surgeon for an evaluation.
Simple things you can do for an ache in the hip or knee are:
Use ice packs for 20-30 minutes 3-4 times per day. Apply ice directly to the joint, using a soft cloth as a buffer between the ice and your skin. Ice is best used after exercise or activity to reduce swelling (swelling causes pain!).
Use a heating pad to the joint for 20-30 minutes 3-4 times a day. Heat is best used when you are resting. Heat bring blood into the sore area and promotes healing.
Take an anti-inflammatory if approved by your doctor. Anti-inflammatory medicines can be purchased over the counter (Advil, Aleve). They work systemically to reduce pain and swelling. People taking blood thinners can not take these medications, but Tylenol might be approved by your doctor.
Cortisone injections may help. This is where your doctor injects a strong anti-inflammatory directly into the joint. This injection may give you relief for a long time. It also may only work for a few weeks or days. This will give the doctor information on how severe your joint disease is.
Physical therapy may help strengthen the muscles around the joints, improving support and stability.
Finally, if those things don’t improve your hip or knee pain, your orthopedist will determine, with x-rays and examination, if you need the joint to be replaced (or resurfaced). If the cartilage in the joint is worn away, and you don’t have anything protecting the bony surfaces, joint replacement can bring you relief and mobility. Over the years I have seen many improvements with hip and knee replacement surgery. What used to be a two-week hospital stay and months of rehab, is now done on an almost outpatient basis, with a rapid return to activity. If you think you need joint replacement surgery, contact our surgeons:
Dr. Paul Gilbert at Verdugo Hills Hospital: (818) 658-5920
Dr. William Long at CHA Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center: (213) 413-3000
For Kaiser patients, Dr. John Kumar at: (562) 657-9000
-Jeri Ward, R.N.