Total Joint Replacement Program

Getting You Back to What You Want to Do

Today more and more people want to maintain an active lifestyle. However, whether it is from an injury earlier in life or a familial history of arthritis or other orthopedic-related issue, our joints sometimes get in the way of what we want to do.

If this sounds like you, The Trinitas Total Joint Replacement Program may just the right place to find solutions. Our team of orthopedic surgeons, nurses, and therapists will put you at the center of the treatment plan decision making to be sure your expectations are met and that you have every opportunity for success.

Every step of the way, we will educate and prepare you for your total joint replacement, give you the finest, most compassionate care during your hospital stay and provide you with a postoperative outpatient rehabilitation program that will have you getting back to what you want to do.

There have been tremendous advances in total joint replacement which result in greater pain-free return to function and a return to the activities that bring great satisfaction to people's lives.

According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, over 800,000total knee replacements are performed each year. In addition, more than 450,000total hip replacements are performed each year as well. These individuals reap the advantages of over 50 years of experience in refining operative techniques, advancing total joint component design and enhancements in the rehabilitation of these joints.

To learn more about what our orthopedists and orthopedic surgeons can do for you, request an appointment today.

The Decision to Have a Joint Replacement

As we age, everyone seems to have an ache or a pain someplace. Changes in the surfaces of our joints, also known as osteoarthritis, are the most prevalent cause of joint pain for many people. Older adults may also experience other forms of arthritis, or inflammation in their joints, that makes it difficult to achieve the very active lifestyles they desire.

While some individuals can work through the pain and not have it affect their daily lives, others experience pain that limits their ability to perform daily everyday functions to a point that the pain makes it difficult to take care of themselves.

If you experience joint pain, see your family physician. They may perform one or more of the following tests to determine the cause of your joint pain:

• Physical exam
• Blood tests
• X-rays

Once it is established that the joint surfaces are the potential source of your pain, they will refer you to an orthopedist who can determine whether or not you need a total joint replacement.

The Role of Physical Therapy in Total Joint Replacement

Your orthopedist may first refer you to physical therapy to determine if maximizing your muscle function can decrease your pain to a point where you can manage your discomfort and lead an active life without having an operation.

While some do gain enough pain relief and are able to return to a level of function without a joint replacement, others may still find the pain and loss of movement at a level that they opt to have a total joint replacement. For these people, physical therapy before deciding to have a total joint replacement means they are in much better shape going into the procedure than those who do not.

Surgical and Postoperative Advancements

Advancements in operative techniques, advancements in the design of the total joint replacement itself and advanced physical therapy techniques have all had positive impact on the outcomes people experience with total joint replacements.

The national average for a patient’s hospital stay after total joint replacement is less than 4 days. Of course, it depends on the type of surgery, age of the patient and any other medical conditions a person may have.

Here at Trinitas, we average only a one-day stay with excellent results.

What to Expect After Surgery

After surgery, patients with total hip replacements or total knee replacements are up and walking immediately, with most starting the afternoon of their surgery.

We stress early movement and increasing walking ability, as well as the patient's ability to take care of themselves.

Physical and occupational therapists provide the skills and encouragement necessary to achieve these early, major gains in function.

Many patients say that while they experience the normal postoperative discomfort anyone has after a surgery of this type, they also notice that the pain they had before the operation is all but gone. The reason for that is simple. The source of that pain —the roughened surfaces of bone in the joint — are now gone!

Pain reduction, new methods of non-narcotic pain control, early movement and function are all the hallmarks of today's modern total joint replacement experience.

Post Discharge — Keys to Success

After discharge from the hospital, patients usually go home.

If needed, home care will be ordered for you.

A few patients do require more services and they are referred to a sub-acute facility for additional rehabilitation.

In either case, the real work now begins.

Patients who set their goals and strive to achieve them are those that achieve the greatest success. People who have a total joint replacement are fully engaged in their own treatment and progress. They find themselves doing more — with less pain — than they ever thought they would be able to do.

Are You a Candidate for Joint Replacement?

Take a look at your current daily lifestyle:

• Are you finding it increasingly difficult to get out of a chair or to walk certain distances due to pain or stiffness in your hip or knee?
• Do your joints get swollen after a small amount of daily activity?
• Are there daily activities that you love to do but now cannot due to joint pain or stiffness?

These are signs that you should consult your doctor and determine the best plan for you.

We invite you to click on the total hip or total knee replacement buttons below to begin the process of getting relief from your joint pain. Start your journey on the road to getting you back to what you want to do.

Total Hip Replacement Total Knee Replacement