Suffering from joint injuries and deterioration is frightening and confusing experience. But patients who are more aware of their condition can choose to undergo surgery while successful healing is still possible.
Beverly Hills, CA (PRWEB) August 21, 2014
According to a recent federally-funded research project called FORCE-TJR, patients who elect to undergo joint replacement surgery earlier tend to see better results than those who wait. The researchers came to this conclusion after studying the outcomes of 17,000 hip and knee replacement patients. The results showed that patients who waited to undergo joint replacement surgery tended to have more damage to the joints and surrounding tissue.
“Many people choose to put off surgery until they simply cannot use their joint anymore,” said Rajan Patel, MD, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon at the Joint Surgery Center of Excellence in Los Angeles. “But undergoing surgery before you reach this point can help prevent serious muscle and tissue damage, which can also lead to a more successful operation and an easier recovery.”
Who Needs Joint Replacement Surgery?
Early results from the FORCE-TJR research project show that most joint surgeries patients will return to the same level of health and functionality as those without deteriorated joints. Patients who wait until they are severely disabled, however, are much less likely to have their joints become fully functional after hip or knee replacement surgery.
Knowing the signs and symptoms of a joint deterioration can help patients better decide when to undergo surgery. Common signs that a joint may need replaced include:
· Joint pain that disturbs sleep
· Pain that limits your activities
· Stiffness or swelling that does not lesson with stretching
· Difficulty walking, climbing, or getting in and out of chairs
“Suffering from joint injuries and deterioration is frightening and confusing experience,” said Dr. Patel. “But patients who are more aware of their condition can choose to undergo surgery while successful healing is still possible.”
About La Peer Health Systems
La Peer Health Systems is an outpatient surgery center in Beverly Hills, founded by doctors and focused on providing excellent patient care alongside the most cutting-edge medical treatments available. With 50 world-renowned physicians in 14 specialties, comprehensive medical treatment is offered that takes patients from consultation to diagnosis, treatment, surgery, and ultimately aftercare. The 14 medical departments include orthopedics & sports medicine, gastroenterology, head & neck surgery, colorectal & general surgery, podiatry, ophthalmology, pain management, plastics & reconstructive surgery, gynecology, spine surgery, interventional cardiology, bariatric surgery, thoracic surgery, and anesthesiology. Unlike large hospitals, La Peer's unique structure offers extremely personal care in a safe and controlled environment.
To learn more about La Peer Health Systems, visit http://www.lapeerhealth.com.