Are your knees worn out? Harvard doctors reveal what you need to know before you agree to a knee replacement

Harvard Medical School’s Guide to Total Knee Replacement reveals: ✓ 6 things you can try to ease your knee pain before you agree to surgery ✓ The procedure that may help you avoid total knee replacement surgery. A great option if you’re under 50 ✓ The type of implant that pregnant women shouldn’t get — and why you may want to avoid it, too ✓ Why you need to make sure Medicare or Medicaid aren’t limiting your surgeon’s implant options ✓ How being overweight increases your risk of blood clots and infection ✓ Common reasons implants fail and what you can do to avoid revision surgery Dear CERASALE, Are your knees stiff and achy when you get out of bed in the morning? Is it painful to go up and down stairs? Or stand up after you’ve been sitting for a while? Chances are you’ve got osteoarthritis caused by worn down cartilage inside your knee joint. If your knees are giving you enough trouble, you may be considering having one, or both, knees replaced. A total knee replacement can be life-changing — helping relieve pain and restore movement. In fact, 730,000 total knee replacements are done each year, making it the most common inpatient surgery in the U.S. But that doesn’t mean it’s for everyone. As with any surgery, there are risks. That’s why you need Harvard Medical School’s Guide to Total Knee Replacement. This new report brings you everything you need to know about total knee replacement to help you make the best possible decision for your health. For example, you’ll discover... Why your knees wear out. Few joints in the body do as much every day as the knees. They help you walk, climb, carry heavy objects, and work. In fact, every step you take on level ground puts one to one and a half times your body weight on each knee. Make that two to three times your weight, when you go up and down stairs. And if you’re a few pounds heavier than you’d like, your knees are getting hit with an extra four to six pounds of pressure for every extra pound! Do achy, noisy knees automatically mean they’re “bad enough” for a total replacement? When your knees hurt it’s tempting to think that having a total knee replacement will restore you to your twenty-something active self. Sadly, that’s not the case. In Harvard’s Total Knee Replacement report, you’ll get the facts about knee replacement written in easy-to-understand English. You’ll discover: The options you should try before you agree to surgery Why you may not want to have your knee replaced if you’re younger than 60 The procedures that can help you get relief without having a total replacement 8 signs it’s time to consider a total knee replacement And much more. Download now and start reading Total Knee Replacement If you do need a replacement, or think it’s time to seriously consider it, Harvard’s Total Knee Replacement guide is invaluable. You’ll find a list of critical questions to ask your doctor about his or her credentials and experience — the best doctors welcome these questions — to help ensure you have the best possible surgeon. In addition, you’ll learn the basics of the various types of knee joints available (there are over 150 implant designs) so you can work with your doctor to find the best type for you. You’ll even learn why implants with special features that sound great, may actually have a slightly higher risk of complications. And, since this is often elective surgery, Total Knee Replacement explains the many benefits of prehabilitation. This type of physical therapy may help you have a shorter hospital stay, less post-op pain, and even a faster recovery. You’ll also learn why minimally invasive surgery may sound like the best option, but could make it harder for your doctor to install the implant... common reasons implants fail and how to help avoid these problems and so much more. If you’re considering a total knee replacement or think it might be in your future, be sure to order Total Knee Replacement today! Here’s to living with pain-free knees, Scott D. Martin, M.D. Associate Professor of Orthopedics Harvard Medical School Sports Medicine Fellowship Director and Joint Preservation Center Director, Massachusetts General Hospital