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If your knees ache when you walk, exercise, or even when you sit still or lie down, you might have considered whether knee replacement could be right for you. Knee pain can significantly impact your health and happiness and, for many people, having surgery can offer a new lease of life.
However, while knee replacement is a common surgery, whether or not to have it is a big and personal decision.
With this in mind, we’ve partnered with one of the UK’s largest independent providers of NHS and private healthcare, Practice Plus Group, to help you consider whether knee replacement is right for you.
Practice Plus Group is passionate about giving patients a positive experience, with excellent clinical outcomes and personalised care every step of the way.
What is knee replacement surgery?
Knee replacement surgery is a common operation that’s used to relieve pain and restore mobility. Your doctor may recommend knee surgery if you’ve been suffering from knee pain that impacts your daily life.
During surgery, the damaged knee is replaced with an artificial joint that’s shaped to allow normal movement. Damaged cartilage (a type of connective tissue that acts as the body’s natural shock absorber) is also removed and metal implants are cemented into the bone. A plastic spacer is then inserted in between the metal implants to create a smooth, gliding surface and to act as a shock absorber.
There are several types of knee surgery, including total and partial knee replacement. The one you might choose will depend on your needs – for example, how damaged your knee is. You can read more about the different types of knee replacement treatments on the Practice Plus Group website.
Knee replacements are generally very successful. However, other non-surgical treatments are usually tried first. This includes physiotherapy, rest or reduced activity, weight loss, and pain-relieving or anti-inflammatory medications.
To learn more about knee replacement surgery, you can watch the Q&A video with Mariusz Korycki, Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgeon from Practice Plus Group below.
What are the benefits of knee replacement surgery and are there any risks?
Research shows that most people who have knee replacement surgery experience improved quality of life. Many report reduced pain, improved mobility, and better mental health.
For example, in this recent NHS survey, 87% of knee replacement patients said the results of their operation were excellent, very good, or good.
That said, while knee replacement surgery is considered a safe procedure, as with any major operation, there are risks to consider.
According to Practice Plus Group, some of the risks in the weeks following surgery include infection, allergic reaction, excess scar tissue, nerve damage, and deep vein thrombosis.
8 signs knee replacement may be right for you
We’ll cover some of the signs that knee replacement might be right for you below.
1. Knee pain is becoming more frequent and intense
We all experience the occasional twinge in our knees after a long car journey or spending the day on our feet. While uncomfortable, these aches usually disappear as quickly as they came.
However, regular, intense knee pain isn’t normal and may be a sign that your knee joint is deteriorating. It’s important not to ignore these symptoms because the more worn out your knee becomes, the more complicated knee replacement surgery and recovery can be.
Knee pain can feel different for everyone depending on its cause. However, some of the most common types of pain that might indicate a need for knee replacement surgery include…
- Knee pain that lasts longer than a couple of weeks
- Knees that ache during and after exercise
- Severe pain in the knee and the surrounding area
- Knee pain that worsens in cold or humid weather
- Knee pain that keeps you up at night
- Knee pain that no longer responds to over-the-counter medications, like ibuprofen
According to Practice Plus Group, knee-related pain may also appear elsewhere in your body, including in the hips or ankles, and is likely to impact your daily life, even when you’re resting.
2. Knees have become swollen or inflamed
Conditions like knee osteoarthritis can cause cartilage to break down. Because we rely on cartilage to protect our knees from friction and pressure caused by walking and moving around, this can cause pain, inflammation, and swelling.
According to Practice Plus Group, one of the main signs that knee surgery may be right for you is if swelling and inflammation no longer responds to medication, or your affected knee looks different to the other one.
3. Knee pain is affecting your mobility
Most of us lose some joint flexibility with age, but persistent knee stiffness that impacts your mobility may signal something more serious.
Some common mobility issues include…
- Knee stiffness that means you need to use a cane or other mobility device
- Difficulty walking, standing up, climbing stairs, or getting out of the bath
- Morning knee stiffness that persists
- Knee stiffness that gets worse after sitting for long periods
- Knee stiffness that makes it particularly difficult or painful to bend the knee
Knee pain that affects your mobility is important to address early on. As mobility reduces, people tend to move less, causing muscle strength and a loss of joint function. Losing significant amounts of strength and function can make it more difficult to recover from a knee replacement.
4. Your legs are beginning to bow
Another sign that you may benefit from knee replacement surgery is if your legs are beginning to bow.
Bowed legs curve outward at the knees when the feet and ankles are touching, and are often seen in patients trying to manage their pain by adjusting how they walk.
5. Knee pain is interfering with your daily life
If knee pain is interfering with your daily life, this is a key sign that knee replacement might be right for you. We all slow down a bit in later life, but it’s not normal to struggle with daily activities.
Common examples of daily activities that knee pain can affect include getting dressed, going grocery shopping, climbing stairs, and walking the dog.
Over time, having to adjust your lifestyle or stop doing things you love as a result of knee pain can impact your mental wellbeing and quality of life, so it’s important not to ignore it.
6. Knee pain is affecting your sleep quality
If knee pain is preventing you from getting enough good-quality sleep, a knee replacement might be worth thinking about.
Research has found that as many as 80% of people with arthritis have trouble falling and/or staying asleep. If left unchecked, a lack of sleep can worsen knee pain and impact overall health too – including reduced immune function and a higher risk of depression.
7. Your mental health is suffering
Struggling with knee pain and limited mobility can take its toll on your mental health – particularly if you have to adjust your lifestyle or become more housebound.
Taking care of your mental wellbeing is just as important as your physical health, and if you’ve been experiencing symptoms of depression as a result of knee pain, it’s important to speak to your GP.
8. Non-surgical treatments are no longer working
When your knee pain first started, lasting relief may have been as simple as taking a couple of ibuprofen or having a warm bath. However, as time goes on, many people find that home remedies lose their effectiveness.
Luckily, there are several non-surgical options for knee pain, including physiotherapy, weight loss, and steroid injections. Though, some people find that these have a time limit too when it comes to offering relief. In some cases, non-surgical treatments may also no longer be possible – for example, weakened mobility can make regular exercise and physical therapy increasingly painful.
According to Practice Plus Group, if medication is no longer effective for managing pain and discomfort, it’s a sign that your knee has deteriorated. Symptoms that no longer respond to non-surgical treatments may be the greatest sign that knee replacement is the right option for you.
How much does knee surgery cost?
The cost of private knee surgery can vary depending on several factors, including the type of surgery you have and what healthcare provider to go with. However, generally speaking, knee surgery can cost anywhere between £5,000 and £15,000 in the UK.
Unlike other healthcare providers, Practice Plus Group offers consistent prices per procedure, regardless of where you live and which consultant you have.
For private surgery, Practice Plus Group patients can expect to pay £11,799, plus an additional £95 for an initial consultation. This includes everything from pre-operative assessment, surgery, your hospital stay, prescriptions, equipment, and any follow up appointments, including physiotherapy. The average waiting time for private knee surgery with Practice Plus Group is four to six weeks.
If self-pay private healthcare isn’t an option for you, Practice Plus Group also offers knee surgery through private health insurance and NHS referral. Flexible finance options are also available through Practice Plus Group’s Wellsoon self-pay surgery offering to help spread the cost of treatment. This includes the option to finance care over the course of 12 months with 0% interest.
To find out more about finance options, including eligibility and payment terms, head over to the Practice Plus Group website.
Practice Plus Group is one of England’s largest independent providers of private, insured, and NHS healthcare. They’re passionate about what they do and believe that anyone should be able to access excellent care, whether you’re paying for yourself, through private medical insurance, or an NHS patient. As the first provider to have all services rated ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission, whatever payment option you choose, you’ll be well cared for with Practice Plus Group.
Final thoughts…
Knee pain can be upsetting and difficult to live with and, if it’s been impacting your quality of life, you may have considered knee replacement surgery. Deciding to have any major operation is a personal decision, but we hope this article has been helpful for considering your options.
Practice Plus Group are passionate about delivering high-quality, personalised care and offer knee replacement surgery through self-pay private healthcare, private healthcare insurance, and via NHS referral. Plus, their flexible finance options allow you to spread the cost.
To find out more about accessing knee replacement surgery through Practice Plus Group, head over to their website.
Do you have any experience of knee replacement surgery that you’d like to share? We’d be interested to hear from you in the comments below.
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