Are You a Candidate for Joint Replacement? Answer These 5 Questions

If you’re living with chronic joint pain or arthritis, you know how challenging even simple daily activities can be. If medication, physical therapy or lifestyle changes haven’t brought relief, you may be considering whether you’re a candidate for joint replacement. While many people assume joint replacement surgery is only for older adults, the decision is highly personalized, with factors like pain level, quality of life and overall health also playing a role. 

In this article, we’ll share important factors to consider to help you decide if joint replacement is the right choice for you and whether it’s time to speak with an orthopedic specialist about your options. 

If chronic joint pain is affecting your quality of life and conservative treatments haven’t provided relief, joint replacement may be an appropriate next step. At The Bone and Joint Surgery Clinic, our board-certified orthopedic surgeons have years of experience and training in joint replacement surgery. We invite you to contact us to discuss your condition; we’ll answer your questions and create a personalized treatment plan just for you. 

What Factors Are Considered Before Recommending a Joint Replacement?

Determining whether you are a candidate for joint replacement surgery is a collaborative decision made between you and your healthcare team, based on the specifics of your situation. 

Our orthopedic specialists will evaluate several factors before recommending surgery, which may include:

• The severity of joint damage visible on imaging 
• Frequency and intensity of pain 
• Loss of mobility and joint function
• The impact of your condition on your quality of life
• The underlying cause of joint deterioration, such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, previous joint injuries or fractures or other disorders
• Your overall health and ability to recover post-surgery

There is no single factor or criterion that determines whether you are qualified for joint replacement. We’ll work together with you to consider the risks, benefits and potential outcomes before recommending surgery.  

Does Age Play a Role in Qualifying for a Joint Replacement?

Though many people assume it’s possible to be too young or too old to qualify for joint replacement, age is just one consideration. It’s rarely the deciding factor when making decisions about eligibility.

Age was once more of a determinant for younger patients because artificial joints had a limited lifespan. This meant there was the possibility of outliving the implant and requiring revision surgery [Link to: https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/treatment/revision-total-knee-replacement/ ]. 

Advances in implant technology have improved the durability of prosthetic joints, and today’s joint replacements may function well for 20 years or more, making surgery a viable option for younger adults with severe arthritis or joint damage. 

Today, age is considered together with the factors mentioned in the previous section, such as pain and disability levels, the impact on your quality of life and your overall health status.

Surgeons still assess factors such as life expectancy, activity level and the potential need for future revision surgery when making eligibility decisions. 

What Conservative Treatments Must Be Tried Before Considering a Joint Replacement?

Joint replacement surgery is usually not the first step in treatment. We typically recommend conservative, non-surgical options first.

Common conservative treatments may include:

• Physical therapy
• Activity modifications
• Pain management techniques
• Low-impact exercises like walking or swimming 
• Weight management strategies, if appropriate
• Anti-inflammatory medications 
• Corticosteroid or other joint injections

In some cases, conservative approaches may provide enough relief so that surgery can be avoided. If these treatments are no longer effective and you continue to experience pain, joint replacement may be the next step.

What Factors Disqualify Someone from Receiving a Joint Replacement?

While some pre-existing issues may require treatment first, few factors permanently disqualify someone from receiving a joint replacement. 

Health conditions that need to be resolved before surgery include:

• Active infections
• Uncontrolled diabetes
• Smoking-related health risks
• Cardiovascular or lung conditions 
• Other serious unmanaged medical conditions 

Joint replacement may be delayed as we treat these conditions. Our orthopedic specialists are invested in helping you optimize your health prior to surgery to help minimize complications and improve recovery outcomes.  

How to Know When It’s Time for Joint Replacement: 5 Questions to Consider

Here are five questions you can ask yourself to determine if joint replacement is the right choice for you. 

• Is joint pain significantly affecting your quality of life?
• Have you already tried conservative approaches without relief?
• Is age the main deciding factor? (Age is no longer the determinant it once was.)
• Have you addressed existing medical conditions that may increase surgical risk?
• What is the risk of delaying surgery? 

Our expert team at The Bone and Joint Surgery Clinic can help determine if you’re a candidate for joint replacement surgery. We invite you to contact us for an appointment. 

Are You Experiencing Chronic Joint Pain? Our Orthopedic Specialists at the Bone and Joint Surgery Clinic Can Help

If chronic joint pain limits your mobility and interferes with your daily routine, it may be time to speak with one of our orthopedic specialists. Joint replacement surgery helps many patients restore movement, find relief from pain and regain their independence and quality of life.

At the Bone and Joint Surgery Clinic, our board-certified orthopedic surgeons have years of experience and training in joint replacement surgery. We encourage you to contact us for an appointment. We’ll help you understand your options and develop a personalized treatment plan just for you.