Americans are more active than ever before. There are an abundance of things to do in our region, whether it’s hiking, camping, playing tennis or golf, or even working in the yard or on the house. For many the physical movement that these activities require is taken for granted. However, for 20 million Americans with osteoarthritis (OA), playing a round of golf or even walking down a flight of stairs can be unbearable.
OA is the most prevalent form of arthritis and is currently the number one cause of disability in the United States. The condition develops when articular cartilage deteriorates and friction is created between joint surfaces. OA affects three times as many women as men and it is estimated that by 2030, 70 million Americans or 20 percent of the population, will be at risk for OA. While OA most often occurs in people ages 50 and older, younger people who have been injured in high intensity sports or accidents can begin experiencing symptoms in their late 30s and early 40s.
OA is a progressive disease; however, the path of progression can vary from patient to patient. While early treatment can slow progression, affected joints generally continue to deteriorate as a person ages. OA can occur in any joint, but it is most common in the knees, hips, hands, and spine. Early in the disease, joints may ache after physical work or exercise. When OA becomes severe and the cartilage wears away, bones begin to rub together, causing pain, swelling, and loss of motion of the joint. Over time, the joint may lose its normal shape. Also, bone spurs – small growths called osteophytes – may grow on the edges of the joint. Pieces of bone or cartilage can break off and float inside joint space causing even more pain and damage.
When an individual suffers from OA, there are many options for managing the pain that occurs from performing daily activities. To treat the symptoms, a physician may prescribe medications or they may recommend physical therapy. While these options may temporarily alleviate the pain, they cannot reverse the effects of OA and in many cases, total joint replacement surgery may become necessary.
The idea of receiving a new knee or hip can be a frightening thought. Individuals may believe that if they receive an orthopaedic joint, they will not be able to perform simple tasks and would rather try to mask the pain or work through it rather than opt for surgery. However, for a person who suffers from OA, receiving a new joint can be a positive life changing experience.
Although everyone is different, and recovery times vary depending on age and overall health, a typical joint replacement procedure usually takes anywhere from three to five hours and requires a three to seven day stay in the hospital. Physicians often encourage their patients to be active after receiving a new joint and proper exercise is essential for regaining strength, flexibility, and mobility after joint replacement surgery. In addition, regular physical activity can help prevent postoperative weight gain.
After rehabilitation, individuals can engage in a variety of activities. For individuals who have received a new knee, hip, or shoulder joint, lower stress activities such as golfing, hiking, walking, biking, stationary skiing, and swimming are excellent forms of exercise and can be performed with permission from a physician. In many cases, these activities can be performed pain free.
At Pullman Regional Hospital, total joint replacement is just one of the many services offered by the hospital’s surgery department. For patients that have received a new joint at Pullman Hospital, the experience has helped improve their quality of life. Retired physician and Pullman resident James Duffy is one such example. In August of 2005, he received two new knee joints. Prior to his surgery, he could only walk approximately three blocks before he felt pain in his knees and walking down a flight of stairs or on a decline was extremely difficult.
When asked about his decision to have total joint replacement surgery, Dr. Duffy stated “I knew it was time to have it done because my quality of life was so poor that I was not able to do the things I had always done. Although total joint replacement surgery is always an individual choice, I felt like it was the only way to get back to doing the things that I love to do.”
Dr. Duffy also said that one of the benefits of having surgery locally at Pullman Regional Hospital was that he knew that the infection rates at Pullman Regional are extremely low and that helps to minimize possible complications upon recovery.
Almost a year has gone by and now Dr. Duffy says that walking or going down stairs is no longer a problem and he has been able to get back to enjoying his life. He said the key to his recovery was preparing for the surgery well in advance. For almost a year and half, Dr. Duffy tried to exercise by riding a bike and performing various stretches. By preparing his body prior to surgery, he felt that it enabled him to recover more quickly after both knees had been replaced.
Osteoarthritis is a problem that affects millions of Americans each year. If you feel that you are suffering from this condition, talk to your physician. You may be a candidate for total joint replacement and be referred to an orthopedic surgeon. Remember, life doesn’t have to be over if you elect to receive a new joint. In many cases, life can be even better.
For more information on osteoarthritis and total joint replacement surgeries, please visit www.jointreplacement.com, www.zimmernorthwest.com, www.pullmanhospital.org or speak to your physician. |
