Total Knee Replacement
Full Circle Orthopedics in Clearwater, FL offers a great alternative to a total knee replacement when all other arthritis knee pain treatments stop working. However, if your knees don’t qualify for our alternative knee treatment, we are specialists in traditional total knee replacements as well.
Arthritis Knee Pain
Arthritis in your knee is extremely painful. It will limit your ability to walk, work, and perform even the most routine activities. When you have knee pain, it affects not only your knees, but also your back, ankles, and even your cardiovascular system.
People with arthritis pain usually turn to over-the-counter medications initially. But eventually, over-the-counter medications are not enough. That’s when knee pain sufferers head to the doctor. The doctor will then try a series of treatments that might include cortisone injections, hyaluronate injections, and physical therapy. However, these treatments will stop working at some point, and a total knee replacement might be necessary.
What Is a Total Knee Replacement?
A knee replacement is also referred to as knee arthroplasty. It is a surgical procedure that replaces the weight-bearing surfaces of your knee joint to help relieve the pain and disability that comes from damaged or arthritic knees.
Difference Between a Partial and a Total Knee Replacement?
When an orthopedic surgeon in Clearwater, FL performs a total knee replacement, they remove the entire knee joint and replace it with an artificial one made of metal, alloys, polymers, and high-grade plastics. When an orthopedic surgeon performs a partial knee replacement, they remove either the inside (medial) or outside (lateral) parts of the knee joint and replace them with artificial parts.
What Is a Bilateral Knee Replacement?
If both of your knees are damaged due to arthritis or an injury and the pain is so severe that you can’t perform normal activities, your orthopedic surgeon might consider a bilateral knee replacement. A bilateral knee replacement is when an orthopedic surgeon will replace both knees at the same time during the same surgical procedure.
Will a Total Knee Replacement Get Rid of Arthritis?
Unfortunately, no, a total knee replacement won’t get rid of your arthritis. However, it does fix the arthritis damage to your knee, as well as relieves any knee pain associated with the condition.
What Is the Recovery Time after a Total Knee Replacement?
The recovery time for a partial knee replacement is shorter than a total knee replacement. So, with a partial knee replacement, you will be able to walk in about 2-3 days while continuing with physical therapy for up to 3-4 months.
The recovery time on average for people who have had a total knee replacement is about four months; however, it can take around 12 months to fully recover to the point where you can return to performing physically demanding activities. Talk with your orthopedic surgeon in Clearwater, FL about what you can do to help heal and enhance your recovery speed.
Is Walking Good for Knee Replacement Recovery?
Yes, proper walking is the best way to help you recover from knee replacement surgery. Your orthopedic surgeon will tell you how much weight they recommend you put on your leg at any given time.
Is There a Total Knee Replacement Alternative?
If you don’t want a total knee replacement, there is another option available if you qualify. It is called knee resurfacing surgery. This procedure is also referred to by other names as well. Other names include partial knee resurfacing surgery, partial knee replacement, Partial Knee Arthroplasty (PKA), or Unicompartmental Knee Replacement; however, they are all the same procedure.
Knee resurfacing is typically recommended when the inner, outer, or top of your knee compartments are damaged by arthritis. In this case, you might qualify for knee resurfacing surgery in Clearwater, FL. An orthopedic surgeon will generally recommend knee resurfacing once they have exhausted all non-surgical treatments and when medication is no longer working.
How Does Knee Resurfacing Work?
During knee resurfacing surgery, your orthopedic surgeon will shave away all the diseased and damaged parts of your knee but does so without completely replacing your entire knee. After the damaged parts of your knee are removed, the surgeon will insert artificial implants designed to relieve arthritis in the affected compartment of your knee.
Do You Need an Orthopedic Surgeon?
If you need an orthopedic surgeon in Clearwater, FL or the surrounding areas, please Contact Full Circle Orthopedics today. The Florida Knee & Orthopedic Centers were established in 1983 and we have a national reputation for excellence in orthopedic innovations. We have two convenient locations in Clearwater and Palm Harbor, Florida.
Make An Appointment Today!
The Florida Knee and Orthopedic Centers, established in 1983, has a national reputation for excellence in orthopedic innovations and state-of-the-art surgery. Our expert team of orthopedic surgeons treat patients at two locations in the Tampa Bay area. The Florida Knee and Orthopedic Centers is a multi-site group orthopedic surgical practice specializing in knee, hip, and shoulder problems with an emphasis on joint resurfacing (replacement) and arthroscopy. The orthopedic surgeon group annually performs 26% of joint replacements done in Pinellas County, Florida, a population center of over one million with 100 orthopedic surgeons. This continued market dominance is a result of the centers’ focus on clinical outcomes, patient satisfaction, cost-effectiveness, and volume, staffing skill mix, and patient education.
Other Knee Replacement & Treatment Information
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