Joint Replacement Specialist

What is joint replacement?

Joint replacement is a treatment for severe, chronic joint pain when other treatments don’t relieve your symptoms.

Most patients with joint problems benefit from nonsurgical treatments like physical therapy, medication, and joint injections. If you have a condition like osteoarthritis where your joints gradually degrade over the years, these treatments eventually lose their effectiveness.

At this point, Dr. Reid might suggest joint replacement surgery, which involves removing the damaged surfaces in your joint and replacing them with custom measured anatomic joint. He can replace the ends of each bone in the joint (total joint replacement) or do a partial joint replacement if some of your joint bones remain healthy.

Why might I need joint replacement surgery?

Most patients who have joint replacement surgery suffer from osteoarthritis. This condition is caused by wear-and-tear on the joints over the years that lead to the loss of the bones’ protective cartilage.

The autoimmune disorder rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can also lead to joint replacement surgery. RA occurs when your body’s immune system produces antibodies to destroy cells in your joint linings as though they were harmful organisms.

Various forms of arthritis within the joint from cartilage damage can result in uneven wearing of the bones in your joint surfaces causes pain, swelling, friction, inflammation, and pain. Your joints get hot, swollen, and stiff, then weaken and start to twist.

Arthritis can’t be cured, but when other treatments no longer relieve your symptoms, joint replacement can ease your pain and restore your mobility.

What happens when I have joint replacement surgery?

To do joint replacement surgery, Dr. Reid removes the damaged cartilage and bone in your joint and prepares the ends of your bones for the new parts. Replacement joints are made from long-lasting materials, like titanium and ceramic.

Dr. Reid attaches the replacement parts using bone cement or can press-fit the implant into your joint. New bone growth seals the implants in place. In many cases, Dr. Reid uses minimally invasive arthroscopic techniques to do joint replacements. This reduces pain and allows you to recover quickly.

After your joint replacement surgery, you need to follow Dr. Reid’s instructions on rehabilitation. Physical therapy is necessary to regain strength and function in your joints. 

Call James J. Reid, MD, today or book an appointment online to find out if you could benefit from total or partial joint replacement.