- Decreased joint pain
- Increased mobility
- Increased strength
- Correction of deformity
- Restoration of leg length
- Improved quality of life
Realistic expectations about knee replacement surgery
An important factor in deciding whether to have total knee replacement surgery is understanding what the procedure can and can’t do. More than 90 percent of individuals who undergo total knee replacement experience a dramatic reduction of knee pair and a significant improvement in the ability to perform common activities of daily living. But total knee replacement won’t make you a super-athlete or allow you to do more that you could before you developed arthritis. Following surgery, you will be advised to avoid some types of activity for the rest of your life, including running and high impact sports.
With normal use and activity, every knee replacement develops some wear in its plastic cushion. Excessive activity or weight may accelerate this normal wear and cause the knee replacement to loosen and become painful. With appropriate activity modification, knee replacement can last for many years.