What You Can Do If Osteoarthritis Is Interfering With Your Life

Like many women, you may have noticed that knee pain has caused you to reduce or give up doing the things you love. This may have happened slowly over the years, and you’ve come to accept the daily pain and restrictions on your activity.

A lot of other women share the same experience.

Studies show women wait longer than men to have knee replacement surgery, and are less likely to perform daily activities when they do seek treatment.^1,2

There Is Hope

Much of the disability and pain associated with osteoarthritis can be alleviated through total knee replacement.³

Why Women Delay Knee Replacement Surgery

Despite the benefits, many women delay having knee replacement surgery. There are many reasons why women wait.

Some women are concerned…

• That the recovery period will prevent them from caring for their loved ones.
• That the recovery may impact their family life.
• About the procedure and want more information so they can make an informed decision.

It's natural that you're concerned about your family's well-being and delaying surgery so you can care for them. But you need to take care of yourself too. Knee replacement may help you as a busy woman lead a more independent, active life by reducing your pain and enabling you to do the things you want and need to do.

Delaying Your Decision Has Implications

Studies show that early diagnosis and treatment of osteoarthritis can achieve better outcomes than delaying surgery.⁴ In fact, delaying surgery can lower your quality of life not only before the operation, but for up to two years after surgery.⁵ Also, if pre-existing medical problems become more serious, they could actually delay elective surgery such as knee replacement.

Research Shows That More Than Four Out of Five People Are Satisfied with the Results⁶

If you have osteoarthritis, your knees may not effectively cushion your body from the impact and stress caused by the movement of your arthritic knees.

That’s why you feel pain.

Arthritis diminishes your quality of life, reduces your independence and makes it difficult – if not impossible – to do the things you want to do, like gardening, walking, or simple everyday activities such as climbing stairs. Knee replacement can reduce pain and restore mobility by replacing the diseased, worn out surfaces of the joint.

What Do You Want to Do Again?

Whether you want to lift your children or grandchildren, do yoga for relaxation and health, or spend time in your garden, it is important to talk to your doctor about your goals after knee replacement surgery so he or she can choose the right implant for you.

The way a knee replacement will perform depends on your age, weight, activity level and other factors. There are potential risks and recovery takes time. If you have conditions that limit rehabilitation you should not have this surgery. Only an orthopaedic surgeon can tell you if knee replacement is right for you.

References:
1. Harris Interactive Survey Research, April 2005.
2. Hawker, Gillian A., James G. Wright, Peter C. Coyte, J. Ivan Williams, Bart Harvey, Richard Glazier, and Elizabeth M. Badley. "Differences Between Men and Women in the Rate of Use of Hip and Knee Arthroplasty." The New England Journal of Medicine 342 (2000): 1016-1022.
3. Chang, Huan J., Mehta, Priya S., Rosenberg, Aaron, and Scrimshaw, Susan C. “Concerns of Patients Actively Contemplating Total Knee Replacement: Differences by Race and Gender.” Arthritis & Rheumatism 51 (1) (February, 2004): 117-123.
4. Fortin, Paul R., Penrod, John R., Clarke, Ann E., St-Pierre, Yvan, Lawrence, Joseph, Belisle, Patrick, Liang, Matthew H., Ferland, Diane, Phillips, Charlotte B., Mahomed, Nizar, Tanzer, Michael, Sledge, Clement, Fossel, Anne H., and Katz, Jeffrey N. “Timing of Total Joint Replacement Affects Clinical Outcomes Among Patients With Osteoarthritis of the Hip or Knee.” Arthritis & Rheumatism 46 (12) (December, 2002):3327-3330.
5. “Timing of total joint replacement affects clinical outcomes among patients with osteoarthritis of the hip or knee,” Arthritis & Rheumatism, December 2002.
6. NIH Consensus Development Conference on Total Knee Replacement, NIH Consensus Development Program (see: http://www.guideline.gov/summary/summary.aspx?view_id=1&doc_id=5299)

Last Updated: 12/12/2006