Knee Pain Treatment and Knee Replacement Surgery

Don’t Let Knee Pain Slow You Down

If knee pain is slowing you down and preventing you from doing the activities you love, it may be time to consider knee pain treatment and possibly knee replacement surgery. At Baptist Health System, our experienced knee replacement surgeons know that you come to us because you want to stop knee pain from limiting what you can do in life. At Baptist, you’ll be treated with high-quality and safe, compassionate care.

Whether you have arthritis, degenerative joint disease, a knee injury or lost cartilage, there’s no better time than now to get help, your life and power back. We have knee doctors in San Antonio who will work with you every step of the way to develop the right care plan that fits your unique needs. Your care plan to help with knee pain may include medication, physical therapy and cortisone injections. If these treatment options aren’t effective and knee replacement surgery is deemed necessary, you can rest assured that you’ll be in good hands.

What is Knee Replacement Surgery?

Knee replacement surgery, also known as arthroplasty, is a procedure that aims to decrease or eliminate knee pain by removing damaged or diseased parts of your knee bones and replacing them with an artificial joint or implants. This procedure is conducted by an orthopedic surgeon.

Common types of knee replacement surgery:

Total knee replacement is the most common type of knee replacement surgery wherein the surgeon removes the surface of damaged bones (i.e., thigh bone and shin bone) and replaces them with an artificial implant.
Partial knee replacement is also known as uni-compartmental knee replacement. It’s when the surgeon only replaces a part of the knee to keep as much of the original healthy bones and tissues as possible.
Kneecap replacement is when the surgeon replaces only the under-surface of the patient’s kneecap and the trochlea (its groove).
Revision or complex knee replacement is when the patient is having a second or third joint replacement surgery on the same knee or if the patient’s arthritis worsened and caused major bone loss.

What Happens During a Knee Replacement Surgery?

Before the procedure, you may be given general anesthesia, spinal (epidural) anesthesia or peripheral nerve blocks and antibiotics to prevent any form of infection.

We provide minimally invasive knee surgery here at Baptist Health. The orthopedic surgeon will remove the damaged or diseased bone and cartilage from where your thigh bone (femur) and shin bone (tibia) meet at your knee joint. The bone or cartilage removed will then be replaced with the implants in order to help with mobility and live a life with less pain.

Do You Need Knee Replacement Surgery?

Baptist Health’s knee replacement surgeons in San Antonio may recommend surgery to adults of any age, although it is more common in older adults. You may be referred for knee replacement surgery for patients who have tried to get rid of pain with medication, cortisone injections, unsuccessful physical therapy or if you are suffering from any of the following:

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a breakdown of joint cartilage that limits movement and may cause pain
Other forms of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and arthritis that results from a knee injury
Damage to the knee, such as fractures, torn cartilage and/or torn ligaments
Orther degenerative joint diseases (i.e., hip dysplasia and avascular necrosis (AVN)

How Long Does It Take to Recover From Knee Replacement Surgery?

For traditional knee replacement surgery, patients may usually need to stay in the hospital for several days. Once discharged, your recovery at home begins with the assistance of our team. Recovery time may vary from person to person depending on their overall health. Patients will be advised when they’re able to resume activities in their day-to-day life, such as walking and driving.

Knee Replacement Surgery Process

Knee replacement surgery, also known as arthroplasty, can alleviate the pain and immobility that come with injury, deformity or diseases such as arthritis. At Baptist, we offer total knee replacement surgery in which a knee replacement surgeon removes damaged bone and replaces your knee with an artificial joint. Partial knee replacements and revisions are also offered when necessary.

If you and your doctor decide knee replacement surgery is the best treatment, your doctor will let you know exactly what to expect before, during and after surgery. Your team will follow up with you after six weeks, three months, six months and a year to help ensure that your new knee is doing well.