Am I a Candidate for Joint Surgery
Am I a Candidate for Hip Replacement Surgery?
Severe arthritis or injuries of the hip can lead to pain, stiffness and disability. Medications, physical therapy and the use of assistive devices may provide some relief, but these gradually become ineffective as arthritis progresses. Hip replacement surgery, which involves replacing the damaged or diseased parts of the joint with implants, may be recommended as a more definite option to reduce pain and improve movement. It is usually performed in those above 60 when arthritis becomes more severe; however, young people with severe injuries and other conditions affecting the hip may also undergo this procedure with good results. Hip replacement surgery also has certain contraindications. To find out if you are a candidate for a hip replacement procedure, please answer the following questions.
Do you have pain while standing, walking or sitting?
- No
- Sometimes
- Mostly
- Severe pain
Does pain affect your ability to perform your daily tasks?
- No
- Sometimes
- Often
- I am mostly dependent on others
Does pain keep you awake at night?
- Never
- Occasionally
- Most nights
- Every night
Have you had relief from other forms of therapy or with the use of assistive devices?
- Yes
- Mostly
- Sometimes
- Unsatisfactory
Do you experience stiffness in your hips when walking?
- No
- Sometimes
- Require aids for movement
- Bedridden
Do you have an existing infection?
- Yes
- No
Are you overweight or obese?
- Yes
- No
Do you have a medical condition that prevents you from undergoing surgery?
- Yes
- No
Have you had any previous hip surgeries?
- Yes
- No
Am I a Candidate for Knee Replacement Surgery?
Arthritis of the knee can cause pain and stiffness, making regular activities such as walking and bending difficult. As arthritis progresses, conservative treatments tend to lose their efficacy and more definitive treatment should be considered. Knee replacement surgery involves replacing worn or damaged joints with implants to reduce pain and improve movement. It provides excellent results for many and is usually performed on those above 60 but may also benefit young patients with certain conditions.
To help your doctor decide if knee replacement surgery is ideal for you, answer the questions below.
In general, your pain can be described as:
- Mild but does not affect movement
- Moderate and some difficulty with movement
- Severe and great difficulty with movement
- Extremely severe and certain movements are impossible
Does your knee pain affect your sleep?
- Never
- Sometimes
- Mostly
- Every night
Are you able to perform your basic household functions?
- Yes with very little difficulty
- I cannot perform certain tasks
- I can only perform some tasks
- I am mostly dependent on others
Do you feel your knee is unstable or may give way?
- No
- Sometimes
- Often
- Always
While walking, how long does it take before you experience severe knee pain?
- More than half an hour
- 15-30 minutes
- 5-15 minutes
- Less than 5 minutes or instant pain with walking
Are you able to walk down a flight of stairs?
- Yes, with little difficulty
- Yes, with some difficulty
- Sometimes I can’t
- Most of the time I can’t
After sitting for a long time, describe the pain you experience on standing?
- Mild, with little difficulty getting up
- Severe, with great difficulty getting up
- Severe, with great difficulty getting up
- Extremely severe, requiring assistance to get up
Can you kneel down and get back up again?
- I can with no difficulty
- I can with some difficult
- I can but it’s very difficult
- Impossible
While driving, entering and exiting a car or using other forms of transport, your knee pain is described as:
- Mild
- Moderate
- Severe
- Extremely severe
