Joint Replacement Surgery: Right for You?

Joint replacement is generally a highly successful elective surgery for those rheumatoid arthritis patients who are suffering from pain and/or deformity. For example, over 90% of patients who undergo a hip replacement achieve great relief from pain and improvement in joint function. The success rate for knee replacement is slightly lower, and that for other joint replacement surgeries is lower still. Some literature has suggested that hip or knee replacements last 20 years in 80% of patients.

The rheumatoid arthritis patient may need to temporarily discontinue certain rheumatoid arthritis medication for a short time prior to and after the surgery, but usually the duration without these drugs is so short that it does not become problematic for the patient. The long-term reward of no longer suffering a painful, deformed joint is well worth the risk of a short-lived flare in the more severe rheumatoid patient.

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• Have you had joint replacement surgery? What has your experience been like? Leave a comment below or post it on the RA Message Boards.
  
  
• Send your arthritis questions to Dr. Borigini at Feedback@MyRACentral.com.