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BY DARYN GREEN
re you having joint pain? Has the idea of getting a joint replacement surgery crossed your mind? Or maybe you’re just curious about knee and hip replacements and want to know how they work? On May 3, Hurley Medical Center hosted a virtual joint pain livestream. Dr. Paul Telehowski, a Boardcertified orthopedic surgeon with over 20 years of medical experience, explained how joint surgery works and what you can expect with your joint surgery, and answered live questions from viewers.
One of the main causes of knee and joint pain is arthritis. Arthritis is a degenerative joint disease and occurs when the cushion between joints breaks down. This causes the bones to scrape against one another and can lead to pain, stiffness and swelling in the joint. Arthritis can be very painful and only gets worse over time. There are a variety of pain management treatments that can be used;
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INSIGHTFUL, MOTIVATIONAL & INSPIRATIONAL
however, if the joint pain is too severe, a replacement surgery is one of the best options in relieving joint pain. To figure out the best course of treatment for joint pain, a person must consult with an orthopedic surgeon who will test their range of motion and observe how much grinding is going on in the joint. They may have to go through a series of X-rays and in some cases an MRI to evaluate the ligaments and cartilage in the joint. From there, the doctor will recommend the best course of treatment. Typically, treatment starts with encouraging an increase in physical activity and weight loss, followed by physical therapy. They might prescribe pain medications or injections to help relieve the joint pain. If those options are not the right fit, a joint replacement surgery might be the recommended course of action.
