How Can I Learn More About Joint Disease?
The Inova Joint Replacement Center provides classes close to home for those who are experiencing joint pain and evaluating orthopedic options. Our class on arthritis explores a variety of conservative measures that can be taken before surgery.
A class on total joint replacement gives an overview of the causes of joint disease and looks at whether you are a good candidate for surgery, what kind of prosthetic joints are used and what you can expect during rehabilitation and recuperation. This class is taught by orthopedic surgeons and is designed to help you decide which alternatives are best for you and on what timetable.
How Do I Know When I Need Surgery?
Acute pain and stiffness are the most frequently cited reasons why our patients decide to go ahead with the surgery. Many of them have lived with pain and compensated effectively for a long time. But there comes a time when their damaged joints begin to grind bone on bone, resulting in joint deterioration. When the pain and stiffness cause the muscles surrounding the bone to become weak, and the pain is not relieved by rest or pain medication, it may be time to look at alternatives.
What Are My Treatment Options?
To understand your options, you will need to determine the extent of your orthopedic problem. Your orthopedic doctor will carefully diagnose your condition with a medical history, physical exam and X-rays. Your mobility, any deformity in your joints and your general health will be assessed.
If you choose to manage your orthopedic problem without surgery, we can help you with physical therapy on an outpatient basis. We use techniques that can bring relief to painful joints. Your doctor may also give you a prescription for anti-inflammatory medicine to help reduce swelling in your joints.
If you pursue the surgical option, you may attend one of our community classes to help you and your family better understand joint disease and treatment options.
How Do I Select My Physician?
Your relationship with your doctor is very personal. You need to have confidence in your physician's abilities, feel free to ask questions and trust that you are getting the best care possible. It is important to find a physician who has the appropriate training and experience to successfully perform this surgery. Ask your doctors how many joint replacement procedures they have done. Delve into their background, education and training. Talk to previous patients to find out how they felt before, during and after the surgery.
The physicians who work at the Inova Joint Replacement Center have received prestigious awards for their work in the advancement of joint replacement surgery and are known worldwide as lecturers, teachers and researchers. They are total joint replacement specialists who show their devotion to the improvement of surgical techniques and materials by continuously testing and refining the artificial implants they place in patients. They also share their observations with physicians worldwide who are evaluating the immediate and long-term effects of artificial implants.