A knee replacement procedure is performed when a knee joint has deteriorated (due to wear and tear, injury, or disease) and can no longer recover naturally. A deteriorated joint can lead to a lot of pain, difficulty in mobility, limited range of motion, and swelling. Knee replacement is an excellent solution to long-term relief. It involves replacing the knee joint with an artificial piece called a prosthesis.
The implant takes on the responsibility of the natural knee it replaces. Through knee replacement surgery, patients are able to use their knee again with full mobility and pain-free.
How Long Does a Knee Implant Last?
Unfortunately, the implant or prosthesis used in knee replacement procedures does not last forever. Most knee implants can last up to 20 years. This means, if you get a knee replacement before your 50s, there is a high likelihood you will need revision surgery, to replace the implant with a new one, at least one time in your life.
Increasing Longevity of Your Knee Implant
While there is no way to guarantee your implant will last forever, there are things you can do to increase the life of it as much as possible. Below are some tips to follow once you get a knee replacement.
- Avoid high-impact activities. High-impact activities such as strenuous exercise and playing sports can wear down a knee implant a lot faster than normal. Similar to the tires on a vehicle, a knee implant has a lifespan. If you overuse the implant, you will wear it down faster. As such, while you should participate in exercise and have an active lifestyle, it’s bests to limit it to a moderate level. There are many physical activities you can participate in that aren’t heavy on joints, such as swimming.
- Avoid a sedentary lifestyle.Living a completely sedentary lifestyle is also not good for a knee implant. You should get regular walking in, so the implant can function well. If your knee begins to hurt several months or a few years after your surgery, you may need to start physical therapy to improve strength in the knee structures around the joint. A sedentary lifestyle also increases the risk of weight gain, which is bad for a knee implant, as well.
- Keep chronic conditions under control. Many health conditions have a cascading effect on your overall health, including the condition of your implant. As such, it’s essential to take good care of your overall health and chronic conditions, such as diabetes, high cholesterol, etc., so as to give the knee implant a healthy environment to exist in.
You can also talk to your orthopedic surgeon about ways to protect your knee implant and reduce the risk of needing revision surgery in the future.
Personalized Orthopedics of the Palm Beaches in Boynton Beach, Florida
Personalized Orthopedics of the Palm Beaches is composed of board-certified and fellowship-trained doctors and surgeons. We are committed to being the orthopedic providers of choice for our community by giving high quality, personalized, and comprehensive care to our patients. Our doctors and surgeons, along with our physical therapists, have expertise in treating conditions and injuries affecting the spine, shoulder, neck, knee, hip, and more. Along with diagnosis and treatment, we also offer digital diagnostic imaging (MRI and X-ray), physical therapy, fluoroscopic guided injections, ultrasound guided injection, stem cell therapy, and platelet-rich plasma injections.
To learn more about our expertise and for a consultation, call (561) 733-5888 or set up an appointment online.