When you’re healthy and moving well, you may not give your joints much thought. Your hips swivel and sway and your knees carry you up the stairs and down sidewalks.
But when arthritis, injury or another illness or condition affects these important structures, you may find your mobility limited. The activities you love — from gardening to exercising to just getting into a bath or shower — grow difficult and painful.
If you’re experiencing joint pain or restricted mobility, our orthopedic specialists are here to offer solutions. They always begin with conservative treatments like medication, injections and physical therapy. However, they are also skilled surgeons who are capable of relieving joint pain due to arthritis and other conditions using modern joint replacement technology.
When Joints Break Down
Normally, joints allow you to travel through your day with fluid motion. But wear and tear over years of use, or diseases like osteoarthritis or injuries can increase pain, swelling and stiffness.
Your orthopedic specialist will first try conservative treatments. These can include:
- Medications
- Injections
- Braces, canes or other aids
- Physical therapy
- Rest or lifestyle modifications
Following conservative measures, your orthopedic specialist might recommend a surgical procedure to replace the worn-out cartilage and bone with a knee or hip replacement. These surgeries — performed with modern techniques by skilled surgeons — have shown an excellent ability to relieve pain and restore function to millions of patients.
How Joint Replacement Surgery Works
With joint replacement surgery, your orthopedic surgeon removes the very end of the damaged bone and cartilage and replaces it with a new smooth metal and plastic surface. This new surface allows for decreased or resolved pain and improved range of motion that restores mobility and improves a patient’s quality of life.
These procedures take place in the safety of a hospital with specialized protocols and teams devoted to the care of knee and hip arthritis. Following surgery, you’ll begin physical therapy, including strengthening exercises, walking and using stairs immediately.
Modern pain control regimens include nerve blocks and a multimodal approach to medication that alleviates pain in multiple forms. Most patients go home either the same day of surgery or the following day.
Following discharge from the hospital, a nurse and therapist will support your recovery from the comfort of your own home.
How to Know When Joint Replacement is for You
Working closely with your health care team is the best way to know if joint replacement surgery is a solution for your joint pain. To assess your condition, your orthopedic specialist will first obtain basic knee and hip x-rays to evaluate your degree of arthritis.
Your orthopedic specialist is there to answer all your questions about managing your pain and choosing a treatment. If your physician suggests joint replacement, that means they believe it will offer you the best chance to reduce your pain and increase your comfort and mobility.
Your medical team will work with you to schedule your surgery. You will be given a pre-surgical packet to help guide you through the process. Your doctor and the health care team are here to provide answers to your questions and support you through your journey.
We’re Here for You When You’re Ready
If you’re experiencing joint pain, it could be time to consider the variety of options out there to help relieve your pain. Our leading orthopedic experts will be here for you with a compassionate spirit, and a combination of non-operative and operative treatment options.
Brandon Pardi, MD is a fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon with specialized training in surgical and nonsurgical care of knee and hip conditions including pain, arthritis, avascular necrosis and post-traumatic arthritis.
Dr. Pardi has offices in Bolingbrook, Hinsdale and Woodridge. Learn how he can help restore your vibrant, active lifestyle. Call 630-759-1248 for more information or to schedule an appointment.
