Turn back the clock on joint pain

Joint pain has long been associated with aging, but treatment is anything but “old school”. These days, joint resurfacing and replacement surgeries are giving younger people, including baby boomers, a chance to turn back the clock on arthritis and other wear-and-tear conditions that threaten their active lifestyles.

“It’s no longer uncommon for people in their late 40s and early 50s to develop painful osteoarthritis and later benefit from total knee and hip replacement,” says Peter D. McCann, MD, Chairman of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Beth Israel Medical Center.

In the past, patients as young as their late 40s and early 50s were told they had to forego painful activities they once enjoyed or simply accept the pain. In patients who underwent joint replacement surgery, the replacement material might not have lasted longer than 10 years. Today, younger adults are seeking elective joint replacement surgery for three reasons:

1. They want to keep active lifestyles, minus the pain
2. Technology and materials for total joint replacement have improved markedly
3. Surgeons are better trained in new techniques and have longer experience with traditional operations that have a proven track record

Of the 770,000-plus Americans who receive total hip or knee replacements annually, close to half are 65 or younger. “Compared to their older brethren, younger, more active patients who are candidates for joint replacement require a durable joint that will last longer so they can continue their activities,” Dr. McCann says.

Is joint replacement right for me?

Much like the rubber on your tires that wears away after years of driving, cartilage on the joints’ surfaces can deteriorate with age and overuse, and lead to painful, damaging bone-on-bone contact. Diagnosing arthritis is confirmed by a physical examination that may show stiffness and deformity of the joint, and X-rays that show complete loss of the normal joint space, indicating bone-on-bone contact. 

During knee or hip replacement surgery, the damaged surface of the bone is removed and replaced with an artificial surface, such as plastic, metal alloys or ceramic. Since these materials are more durable than those used in joint implants in the past, younger patients who undergo joint replacement surgery can continue with doubles tennis, skiing, golf and other activities pain-free for up to 15 years or more in the vast majority of cases. It’s best to consult with your surgeon about what activities are safe for you, especially high-impact activities such as running.

“People considering surgery need to have detailed discussions with their surgeon about the risks and benefits of using some of the newly designed implants,” Dr. McCann says.

You may be a candidate for joint replacement surgery if you experience:

• 3 to 6 months of unrelenting pain that interferes with everyday activities
• Physical examination that shows limited and painful motion of the involved joint
• X-rays that show advanced arthritis or severe joint degeneration
• Joint pain that doesn’t respond to lifestyle changes, such as weight loss and exercise, or doesn’t respond to oral medications such as Tylenol and non-steroid anti-inflammatory medications (in those who can tolerate them).

Joint health takes priority

Not everyone with joint pain or arthritis needs joint replacement. “Activity modification that minimizes pain, weight loss, strengthening exercises for the muscles supporting the joint, anti-inflammatory medication, and a little rest might be all that’s needed to get past the pain,” Dr. McCann notes.Many of the same non-surgical approaches to manage joint pain can also keep your joints in peak condition for the long-term. Try these coping strategies:

• Try low-impact exercises.
  Hurt when you run? Take up bike riding instead. Tennis causing you trouble? Try swimming. Golf leave you sore? Lift weights. Low-impact exercises keep the joints, surrounding muscles and connective tissues flexible and strong, and help relieve pain from arthritis.
• Keep a healthy weight.
  Extra weight puts strain on the joints in the lower extremities. You can keep your joints healthy by staying within your ideal weight. Find out if you’re within a healthy range by taking your body mass index (BMI). A normal BMI is between 20 and 25.
• Give your joints TLC.
  Try flexibility and range of motion exercises to keep the ligaments and muscles limber in your lower body. You can do these every day, whether you have time to fit a workout in or not. At the end of an active day, place cold packs on problem areas to reduce or prevent inflammation and remember to not push yourself to that same point that results in pain during the next workout.

Find out if you’re a candidate for joint replacement surgery by making an appointment with an orthopedic specialist in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Beth Israel Medical Center. Visit www.BethIsraelOrtho.com or call 1-855-411-LWNY (5969) for more information.

You can also watch Dr. McCann explain how orthopedic surgery can correct common conditions in this webcast.