Surgery

If pain persists or joint damage worsens, you may ask your doctor about your surgical options. Having surgery on an arthritic joint involves either relieving the pressure on the joint or completely replacing the joint. About 95% of patients who undergo surgery report significant pain relief and increase in mobility.

The best results from surgery occur when you are in good shape before the procedure. However, your recovery time will also depend on the affected area and the type of surgery you have. For hip and knee joint replacements, you should expect several months of rehabilitation after the surgery. Sometimes full recovery takes up to one year depending on how fit you are before the surgery. The more fit you are prior to surgery, the more active you are afterward.

Types Of Surgery

Arthroscopy
Bone Fusion
Joint Replacement
Tissue Repair

Arthroscopy is a procedure where doctors remove damaged cartilage and smooth out joint connections by making small incisions in the affected joint. This type of surgery is best when the joint is not too damaged and still "mechanically sound."

Bone fusion surgery is usually performed on joints in the hands or fingers. Doctors use pins and plates to fuse the bones in the joints. Although this procedure can greatly decrease pain caused by severely damaged joints, bone fusion permanently prevents the joint from bending.

Joint replacement involves a substitute joint made out of either plastic or metal. It can replace bones in a joint that are damaged beyond repair and that will not respond to medical treatments typically used for arthritic pain and symptoms. Although hip replacement is the most common type, joint replacement can occur in the knee, thumb, elbow and shoulder.

Tissue repair is performed when damaged joints cause muscles, ligaments and tendons to tear away from the bone. The surgery enables the reattachment of the damaged tissue to the bone.