Look Who it Was Random video

Signals You May be Ready for Joint Replacement

145 views · Published 9 November 2015 · 1:51 · Indexed 20 October 2026

Channel: Lee Health · 2015 · Science & Technology

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People living with joint pain face a tough choice: if and when to get replacement surgery. It’s a personal decision, but there are basic signals to help guide you. 

“A person that has reached a point where it’s disabling, more bad days than good days in a given month. The medicines and so forth aren’t controlling the symptoms anymore, interfering with sleep. Then it’s better in terms of the ultimate results,” says Dr. George Markovich, who is an orthopedic surgeon on medical staff of Lee Memorial Health System. 

Age, overall health and bone density are also considerations. Another aspect that deserves thought is the economic impact. Pain keeps people from work, even driving some from the workplace. Not to mention money spent on pain meds.

“All these things they are doing to try and manage their disease is really impacting their life both emotionally, physically and economically. And studies have shown that a well functioning joint replacement will actually save money over time,” says Dr. Markovich. 

On the flipside, your joints may have some life left in them. If you’re overweight, doctors suggest dropping pounds, which lessens the impact on your joints. If you’re a smoker, give it up. It impacts circulation. If you haven’t tried physical therapy, you might find relief. The takeaway is to tread carefully before making a big decision.

“As far as joint replacement that should be the last resort. But if you wait and wait and wait you’re not going to do as well. So it’s really kind of a balancing act,” says Dr. Markovich. 

A worn out hip, knee or shoulder can be a painful proposition, so it’s important to work with your doctor to find a solution you can live with. 

View More Health Matters video segments at leememorial.org/healthmatters/

Lee Memorial Health System in Fort Myers, FL is the largest network of medical care facilities in Southwest Florida and is highly respected for its expertise, innovation and quality of care. For nearly a century, we’ve been providing our community with everything from primary care treatment to highly specialized care services and robotic assisted surgeries.

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