13 Must-Know Facts About Joint Replacements (Health.com)
Many people say they'd do it again
You will walk the day after surgery
Physical therapy is key
You can replace knuckles
Pain can be managed
Artificial joints may be recalled
Not all joints are the same
Losing weight can help
You can have complications
Chances of success vary
A surgeon's experience matters
Full recovery can take a year
Artificial joints can eventually wear out
Thanks to better rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treatments in the past 20 years, fewer middle-aged people need joint replacements today.
In fact, a California study of people with RA -- all in their 40s or 50s -- found that knee replacements have dropped by 19 percent and hip replacements by 40 percent since the 1980s. (Rates in people over 60, however, have stayed the same or gone up.)
When severe pain or joint damage limits your daily activities, a joint replacement may still be your best option. Here's what you can expect from joint replacement surgery.
Many people say they'd do it again
Janice Gifford, 60, of Sioux City, Iowa, was diagnosed with RA 20 years ago. She had both hips replaced more than 10 years ago, and a knee re...
