The Joint Replacement Option
|  Joint replacement allows patients to return to activities they enjoy. |
"The decision to proceed with joint replacement is a personal one, but most people consider it when anti-inflammatory agents, injections and physical therapy no longer provide relief, or when their joint pain interferes with a decent night's sleep," says orthopaedic surgeon Milan Shannon Moore, MD.
Why joints wear out
Orthopaedic surgeon Brereton Strafford, MD, says the joints are like tires on a car. Three factors contribute to how well they wear:
- Genetics. Tires have varying degrees of quality. It's the same with genetics -- some people are born with quality joints surrounded by strong cartilage (the supporting tissue around the joints), while others inherit joints that are weak and prone to early arthritis.
- Use. If you only drive to the market one time per week, the tires will last longer than if you drive 50 miles per day to work. Likewise, the joints of a professional football player will probably wear out faster than those of a more sedentary individual.
- Age. Tires don't last forever, and neither do joints. With age, cartilage around the joints eventually wears down.
Joint replacement offers a solution
During total joint replacement surgery, Dr. Strafford says, a damaged joint is removed and replaced with an artificial joint made of metal and plastic.
"Total joint replacement surgery has a dramatic effect on people's lives," says Dr. Strafford. "This surgery can mean the difference between someone remaining in a wheelchair or becoming fully ambulatory."
Adds Dr. Moore: "Many patients return to activities such as golf, hiking and travel, pleasures that they had been forced to abandon because of arthritic pain and immobility."
The Joint Program at Auburn Regional Medical Center (ARMC) offers comprehensive care and post-operative rehabilitation from an experienced team of physicians, nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists and case managers. Patients typically remain in the hospital for four days after surgery and participate in intensive rehabilitation and education.
"We begin working with patients the first day after joint replacement surgery to get them out of bed and moving," says Carrie Volk, PT, Manager of Rehabilitation Services at ARMC. "Our goal is to improve joint mobility and overall function."
"ARMC's Joint Program emphasizes each individual's ability instead of their disability," adds Dr. Strafford. "Patients wear street clothes during the rehab process and prepare for a full return to normal activities."
Joint replacement patients recover in ARMC's new Patient Tower and enjoy many amenities, including a stunning view of Mount Rainier from some rooms.
"Not only is the environment pleasing in our new surroundings, but the surgical team goes the extra mile for every joint replacement patient," says Bobbikay Soholt, RN, ARMC's Director of Surgical Services.
"The ARMC staff's dedication and care are unparalleled," says Dr. Moore.
For more information, visit www.auburnregional.com and click on Health Information on the left side of the page. On the next page under Look It Up, click on Common Complaints and then Arthritis.
To contact Dr. Moore, call Cascade Orthopaedics at
To contact Dr. Strafford, call the Sports Medicine and Hand Center at
Take Care of Your Joints
To take good care of your joints, orthopaedic surgeon Brereton Strafford, MD, offers this advice:
Excess weight puts more stress on your joints.
Keeping limbs flexible helps joints stay in good working order.
If your muscles are strong, they absorb some of the force placed on joints.
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202 North Division St., Auburn, WA 98001 (253) 833-7711, FAX: (253) 939-2376 |
