The number of knee replacement conducted every year have almost doubled in the last 15 years. The trend has, in fact, been the same around the world. It is estimated that more than 2 million people in the US alone undergo this procedure in a year.
Earlier the need for knee replacement in India and abroad was just limited to the elderly, typically the ones aged around 70 and above. But this trend has been changing as well. The percentage of people undergoing knee replacement surgery and aged between 45 and 64 has increased by almost 205 percent in the last 15 years.
Several factors have contributed to this changing trend. For example, an increasingly large number of younger patients are now being affected by arthritis of the knee and obesity rates are hitting the roof more than ever.
Nevertheless, there are a few facts about knee replacement surgery in India and abroad that every patient must know. Three of them are listed below:
#1: Pain relief is not guaranteed
No matter whether you get treated at a best knee replacement hospital in India or anywhere in the world, complete pain relief is not guaranteed. Patients who are not a good candidate for knee replacement surgery often end up reporting just 2-point improvement in pain, as compared to others who report a 20-point improvement.
#2: Even less invasive method hurts
No medical procedure is completely pain-free, including knee replacement surgery. The knee replacement cost in India or abroad for the less invasive procedure may seem like an attractive option, but no one talks about the pain management strategies and methods required later afterward. For the first few days after the surgery, the pain is even worse than what it was before surgery.
#3: Drugs may relieve pain, but make head messy
Some drugs and medications prescribed to control pain after the surgery may end up producing psychotic symptoms, hallucinations, and nausea. It is believed that over a period of time, it may even make patients sensitive to pain.
Best Candidates For Knee Replacement Surgery:
Only an experienced orthopedic or joint replacement surgeon will be able to tell whether you are a suitable candidate for knee replacement surgery in India or not. However, there are certain signs and symptoms that you must notice to figure out whether it is the right time.
Knee replacement is often recommended when the knee pain is so severe to interfere with daily activities and routine. In addition, it is only conducted when all other alternative methods of pain relief such as medication, physical therapy, and intramuscular injections have failed to work.
Knee replacement is a common procedure. In fact, this procedure is conducted on more than 6 million people around the world every year. Affordable knee replacement cost in India and the availability of best knee replacement hospitals in India with state-of-the-art facilities are some of the reasons why people choose to travel to the country for this procedure.
You and your orthopedic doctor at a knee replacement hospitals are probably the best people to arrive at the decision as to whether to undergo the procedure or not. While the orthopedic surgeon will conduct a thorough assessment of the condition of your knee and order a few tests, you must inform him about the discomfort that you have been experiencing.
People who suffer from a combination of the following symptoms are often considered as the best candidate for knee replacement surgery:
- Persisting knee pain that recurs from time to time
- Knee pain after strenuous work like exercising
- Medications provide no relief
- Reduced mobility
- Pain interferes with daily life activities and sleep as well
- Decreased range of knee motion
- Stiffness in the knee
- Prior history of knee injury
- Terrible knee pain during rainy season