At this stage you are no longer able to tolerate or manage your symptoms.
Seek advice from your GP.
- Your GP will establish if your health is good enough to contemplate surgery and if you meet the established criteria, i.e. you are not too overweight, you are a non-smoker, you have taken medication appropriately and are using a walking aid.
Appointment with the Orthopaedic Surgeon:
- The Orthopaedic Surgeon will discuss the risks and benefits of surgery with you. The decision to undergo a joint replacement is made between you and the surgeon based on your quality of life, management of symptoms, your own personal preference and your surgeons choice of best option for you as an individual.
Below is the link to your knee and hip replacement pathways. It explains your journey through all the stages; from your decision to having the surgery, preparing for the surgery, hospital admission, operation, recovery and discharge from hospital.
Remember there is no going back once you have had the surgery, the onus of responsibility lies solely upon you to take charge of your rehabilitation by participating in physiotherapy treatments and continuing exercises and advice given by the physiotherapist to achieve the best possible outcome for your joint.
Below is the link to your knee and hip replacement pathways.
It explains your journey through all the stages; from when you decide to have the surgery, to hospital admission, operation, recovery and discharge from hospital.
Once you have had the surgery you will need to take charge of your rehabilitation by participating in physiotherapy treatments and continuing exercises, following the advice given by the physiotherapist in order to achieve the best possible outcome for your joint.
Hip: http://www.orthopaedicscore.com/scorepages/oxford_hip_score.html
Knee: http://www.orthopaedicscore.com/scorepages/oxford_knee_score.html