WHY CAN’T I GET KNEE REPLACEMENT SURGERY NOW?
Many patients with severe arthritis symptoms visit orthopedic surgeons looking for knee replacement surgery. But when your surgeon tells you that it is not the right time for surgery, this can be frustrating to hear and difficult to accept when nothing else seems to work. But your surgeon will have good reasons for making recommendations one way or another.
You are too young: there is no age cutoff to qualify for knee replacement surgery. In fact, people in their 50s have the highest increase in knee replacements. However, on average the prosthesis lasts 20 years in 80 percent of patients. This means that especially at a younger age, it is likely that you may need a second knee replacement procedure. Each time you have this surgery, the risks are higher and the results are less predictable.
You have too many health issues: People who smoke, have uncontrolled diabetes, and/or are obese have a high risk of surgical complications. Infection rates are higher and the surgery is more likely to fail. Therefore, if you have a medical condition that makes you a poor surgical risk, then your doctor will ask you to make improvements in your health until it is safer for surgery.
Your knees are not that worn out: For some people with arthritis that slows them down, knee replacement surgery seems like an easy solution to allow them to stay active and pain-free. However, when your knees are only showing mild “wear and tear”, a “new knee” may not provide reliable, satisfactory results. Knee replacement hardware has limitations, perhaps more than your original joint when it is only slightly broken down. You may have regrets after surgery and the procedure cannot be undone.
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