Knee replacement surgery sometimes leads to long-term regrets

by | Feb 6, 2019 | Health Effects of the Environment and Medical System, Joint Health | 0 comments

knee replacement

Kaiser Health News recently covered a common issue:  that knee replacement surgery, one of the more frequently prescribed orthopedic procedures, doesn’t always fulfill its promise.

Most knee replacements are considered successful, and the procedure is known for being safe and cost-effective. Rates of the surgery doubled from 1999 to 2008, with 3.5 million procedures a year expected by 2030.

Research suggests that up to one-third of those who have knees replaced continue to experience chronic pain, while 1 in 5 are dissatisfied with the results. A study published last year in the BMJ found that knee replacement had “minimal effects on quality of life,” especially for patients with less severe arthritis.

The average cost of a knee replacement is $31,000.  Does the opportunity to reap this profit weigh in the decision process of orthopedists and color their communication with their patients?

Alternatives to surgery exist and oftentimes are effective. In fact, as Kaiser Health News points out,

Significantly, most of those treated with non-surgical therapies were satisfied with their progress. Although all were eligible to have knee replacement later, two-thirds chose not to do it.

_____________________________________

Deepen your body of knowledge

Chronic pain after knee replacement

Hip or knee replacement? Not so fast.

Is running good for your knees?

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Ask Dr. Lavine about….

the cat-cow stretch can help with low back pain

Five star chiropractor

offers

8 best self-care tips for the health of your spine

To claim your free guide, simply enter your email address below.

You'll also be joining Dr. Lavine's e-mail list for periodic updates filled with useful health information and self-care strategies.

We value your privacy and will never spam you. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Thank you! Please Check your inbox to validate your email

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This

Share this post with your friends!