It’s there when you wake up. It’s there when you go to bed. Severe pain that makes your daily tasks feel like a marathon.
If bending or straightening your knee feels like a chore, or you need a “warm-up” just to get moving, it may be more than normal wear-and-tear.
Struggling to climb stairs, get up from a chair, or walk even short distances without discomfort? That’s your knee telling you it’s not coping well.
Chronic inflammation and swelling that refuses to go away, no matter how much you baby it. If your knee looks and feels swollen most of the time, even after rest and ice, it’s worth checking out.
While the old-school advice was to wait as long as possible before getting a total knee replacement (because who really wants to fast-track surgery?), new studies say that going for it earlier can lead to better results. In fact, younger patients with less advanced arthritis often have fewer complications and come out of surgery feeling like rock stars. But again, the decision is totally yours (and your doctor’s) to make! 1.
Don’t wait for the pain to “get bad enough.” Early diagnosis and treatment can save you months (or years) of discomfort.
Take the first step toward moving freely again.
1. Total Knee Arthroplasty in Younger Patients Evaluated by Alternative Outcome Measures. Klit, Jakob et al. The Journal of Arthroplasty, Volume 29, Issue 5, 912 – 917