Signs you need knee operation
Knee pain is common and can have many causes. But how do you know when it is more serious than just muscle damage?
If it does mean that you’re in need of a replacement, how can you ensure you will be back on your feet, back to work and doing the things you love, in just weeks?
Your Bath Chronicle has teamed up with Practice Plus Group to provide you with all the information you or your loved one could need before taking those crucial next steps.
Kenan Dehne, (inset) orthopaedic surgeon at Practice Plus Group Hospital, Emersons Green, explained: “We see many patients with knee pain. The signs that they require joint replacement surgery include:
24-hour severe pain in the knee and the surrounding area, or elsewhere such as the hip or ankle, which impacts on your daily life even when you are resting;
swelling and inflammation of the knee which no longer responds to medication;
stiffness in the knee and immobility; ‘bowing’ of the leg; non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs no longer provide relief from pain.
“When pain and damage are at these levels, knee surgery becomes advisable in order for the patient to once again enjoy a good quality of life.”
There is a common misconception that severe knee pain only affects people in their 70s and above.
The truth is that osteoarthritis, the most common reason for joint degeneration, is caused by wear and tear, often from movements that are frequently repeated and so can affect much younger people.
Mr Dehne said: “In my 21 years as an orthopaedic surgeon I have seen carpet layers, tilers, builders, dancers and sports people who have badly damaged knees because of the constant punishment their joints have taken.
“Often they have been selfemployed and the constant pain has caused them to take time off work or forced them to turn down contracts. For older people, particularly grandparents, not being able to easily climb up stairs or get down or up from the floor means they are unable to help their families by taking on the childcare in the way they would like.
“The good news is that with modern surgical techniques, such as minimally invasive keyhole surgery, you are usually only in hospital for one night. In some cases we can even carry out the operation as day surgery.”
If you have experienced any of these symptoms and are worried, you should discuss them with your GP. If your symptoms are very severe and debilitating, they may suggest you need surgery.
The good news is that now there are three simple ways to proceed.
You can ask your GP to refer you to Emersons Green Hospital for NHS treatment; you can contact your insurance company and ask to be treated with us; or you can explore our Self Pay option.
This option will see you receive the same excellent care that we have always delivered but at approximately one-third less cost than other private hospitals.
For more information, visit the Practice Plus Group website, www. emersonsgreenhospital.nhs.uk.