This article is part of the Essential Guide to Hip Pain Relief.
Your joints are the places on your body where two bones meet. When they bend and straighten, they work with surrounding articular cartilage to help you get around.
Sometimes, though, your joints stop moving as smoothly as they used to and start causing debilitating pain when you try and do everyday activities.
The leg bone’s connected to the knee bone ...
The knee bone’s connected to the thigh bone ...
The thigh bone’s connected to the hip bone ...
A lot of us got our introduction to anatomy—and joints—from the verses of the kid-friendly song “Dem Bones,” but the peppy spiritual keeps things positive, making no mention of what it’s like to have “bone-on-bone” connections go awry.
Read on to learn more about other types of effective-yet-less-popular joint replacement procedures that allow you to live pain-free, restore function and mobility, increase your joint strength and stability, and improve the overall quality of your life.
Figuring out what’s causing your achy joints
After an injury or as a result of aging, it’s most common for people to experience aches in their knees and hips, but it’s also possible to feel chronic joint pain elsewhere in your body, including in your:
- shoulders
- elbows
- ankles
- wrists
- fingers
- toes
If you’re experiencing ongoing joint pain and progressive stiffness, your orthopedic doctor may recommend that you follow a personalized plan for recovery that takes into account what’s happening with your joint, how old you are, your activity level, and more.
Some initial joint pain relief treatments include a combination of things like physical therapy, injections, activity modifications, medication, injections, anti-inflammatory shots and drugs, weight loss, and pain medicines.
What to do when joint pain becomes chronic
If non-surgical techniques like these fail to help you feel and move better, though, your physician might recommend state-of-the-art total joint replacement surgery so that you can live more independently and without persistent pain.
Although these can be effective for some patients, you may find that you’re still not where you what to be and your joint hurts even when you aren’t moving.
When you’re battling chronic hip, ankle, or shoulder pain and want more relief than these treatments can provide, it might be time to consider getting joint replacement surgery.
What is hip replacement surgery?
Hip replacement surgery is a type of surgical procedure in which an orthopedic surgeon removes your hip joint and replaces it with an artificial joint using a standard and minimally-invasive method. The procedure typically involves a short hospital stay, followed by physical therapy during your recovery time.
What is ankle replacement surgery?
Total ankle replacement surgery has been around since the 1970s. It is a surgical procedure in which an orthopedic surgeon replaces your damaged ankle joint with an artificial ankle implant. You’ll stay in the hospital for a few days after the procedure, and you’ll need to wear a splint and need to use crutches for a few weeks during your recovery for extra support. Your surgeon and orthopedic care team will closely monitor your healing and help you through the recovery process.
What is shoulder replacement surgery?
Total shoulder replacement surgery is a surgical procedure that restores mobility and function of your shoulder. It involves removing your shoulder joint and surgically implanting an artificial shoulder implant.
Picking the right orthopedic provider
When it comes to getting rid of joint pain, your focus should be on receiving the right care—close-to-home by experts you trust—in the right environment.
You are in good hands when you choose the orthopedic specialists at Logansport Memorial Hospital. All of our highly-skilled orthopedic providers are dedicated to reducing your discomfort and ensuring your safety.
Meet Dr. Jason Ummel
The newest member of the Logansport Memorial Hospital orthopedic care team is surgeon Dr. Jason Ummel.
Dr. Ummel’s specialty is sports medicine and joint replacements. If you are looking for an orthopedic care provider, he is now accepting new patients.
If unrelenting joint pain is keeping you from living a normal life, we can help. All of us at Logansport Memorial Hospital are here to help when you’re ready to talk to one of our experts about your treatment options for restoring your mobility and improving your strength.
Let’s discuss your goals and make a plan to get back to doing what you love—without the burden of chronic aches and pain—and start building better health.
