Most people wait too long for knee replacement surgery

Most people wait too long for knee replacement surgery   Are you living with knee pain? A new study found that 90% of Americans with osteoarthritis are suffering for too long before they undergo surgery that could improve their quality of life. By waiting too long, patients lose function and that inhibits their ability to exercise, making it more likely they will gain weight, become depressed and develop other health problems. In addition, waiting too long can also reduce a patient’s chances of improvement once they do get knee replacement surgery. The study also found that 25% of people who are getting knee replacement surgery are doing it too soon. Because artificial knees wear out in about 20 years, early adopters are essentially setting themselves up for another surgery down the line. So when’s the right time? It's hard to say, but an element to the procedure’s success is keeping a patient’s expectations in check. Knee replacements aren’t made for running or pounding the tennis courts -- but rather for walking long distances and performing the activities of daily living. “If your goal is to be normal, that's a difficult thing to obtain when your knee is coming out of a box,” said Mount Sinai orthopedic surgeon Dr. Edward Adler.