During your visit, your doctor and their team will provide a thorough evaluation to determine the etiology of your musculoskeletal pain. This will involve obtaining x-rays in the office if you have not had recent ones. We offer a variety of comprehensive non-surgical and surgical approaches to relieve hip and knee pain and will create a personalized approach for you.
Please bring the following to your first visit:
- Valid ID
- Insurance information
- Prior imaging of the affected joint (Please bring CD’s of x-rays, CT scans, MRI’s)
- All prior medical records & operative reports (if prior joint replacement is being evaluated)
- List of all current medications
Joints within the body are lined with shiny articular cartilage that enables them to move smoothly, and deterioration of this cartilage lining can be quite painful and debilitating. This can be due to a variety of reasons including arthritis (osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis), trauma, infection, and other specific conditions. Joint replacement is a surgery that is performed to remove the arthritic and damaged portions of a joint and replace them with prosthetic components. The goal in doing so is to restore function and provide a pain free joint. When patients initially develop symptoms due to arthritis, we typically begin with conservative treatments which can include medications, physical therapy, bracing, weight loss, and injections. If you have continued joint pain and limitations that affect your quality of life despite conservative treatment, then you may be a good candidate for joint replacement surgery. If you have other active medical issues, it is important that we optimize your overall health prior to proceeding with joint replacement to ensure the best possible outcome. Based on your symptoms, examination, and imaging, you and your doctor will have a thorough discussion with you regarding candidacy for joint replacement surgery.
Are You a Candidate?
You may be a good candidate for joint replacement if some of the below apply:
- Joint deterioration (arthritis) that causes pain and limitations
- The joint pain has affected your quality of life
- Conservative treatments did not provide adequate relief
- Resulting joint weakness, stiffness, or instability
- No other active medical issues that would preclude you from having surgery
With newer minimally invasive techniques and modern surgical protocols, significantly more joint replacement patients are going home the same day of their procedure. With these advances, patients are up walking within hours of surgery. Patients who discharge the day of surgery tend to have a smoother, lower-stress recovery being in the comforts of their own home. Additionally, recovering at home as compared to the hospital poses a lower risk of acquired infection. To go home the same day of surgery, you must meet all the same post-operative criteria as a patient who spends a night or more in the hospital. This includes progressing with physical therapy, having good pain control, voiding without issue, and being able to eat and drink appropriately. While the benefits of outpatient joint replacement are evident, not everyone is a candidate. Those with certain medical conditions, advanced age, and poor home support system may not be suitable for same day joint replacement. Our physicians are here to have a thorough discussion with you pre-operatively about your candidacy for same day joint replacement.
