Central Peninsula Hospital | Pulse | Spring/Summer 2020

Need a new knee? 3 questions to ask A worn-out knee canmake youmiserable. And if you're living with one, youmay wonder if it's time to consider knee replacement surgery. Your doctor can discuss the pros and cons of surgery—but ultimately the decision is yours. That's because most knee replacements are elective, meaning they're done when you're ready to seek relief from your pain, not for an emergency medical reason. To help you decide, here are three questions to ask yourself about your knee pain and other considerations: 1 Can I live with the pain I have now? If pain is affecting your daily life, surgery may be the right choice. Here are some red flags: ●   ● It's hard to climb stairs, get into a car or move around your home. ●   ● You're giving up activities you enjoy. ●   ● You wake up at night in pain. ●   ● Your mood and relationships are affected. ●   ● You have more bad days than good. 2 Have I exhausted all other options? Knee replace- ment surgery is typically only appropriate if other, more conservative treatments haven't helped. These in- clude pain relievers, steroid injections, exercise, physical therapy and assistive devices, such as a walker or a cane. 3 Am I ready to commit to recovery? Removing a natural knee and replacing it with artificial parts is a major surgery. For better healing, you may need to stop smoking and lose weight beforehand. And afterward you'll need physical therapy to regain muscle strength, range of motion and good mobility. But keep your eyes on the prize: This surgery eases pain for most people. Sources: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons; Arthritis Foundation; National Institutes of Health Sometimes the best solution for a painful joint is surgery. Read about our expert joint-replacement team at www.cpgh.org/jointcenter . 4 Bone up on calcium and vitamin D. This mineral-vitamin duo helps build and maintain strong bones, reducing the risk of osteoporosis, which thins bones and makes them prone to fractures. Sources of calcium include low-fat dairy products— such as milk, yogurt and cheese—along with foods such as broccoli, kale and canned salmon with edible bones. Some juices, cereals, breads, soy milk and bottled water have calcium added to them. Read the labels. They may also contain vitamin D. Your skin makes vitamin D when exposed to the sun. However, being in the sun also raises your risk of skin cancer. Ask your doctor if you should take a vitamin D supplement. Sources: Arthritis Foundation; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; National Institutes of Health; National Osteoporosis Foundation; Smokefree.gov; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Leave pain behind Put your knee in the hands of our skilled orthopedic surgeon, Mark Hammerberg, MD. Call Central Peninsula Bone & Joint Center at 907-714-4120 tomake an appointment. PULSE Spring/Summer 2020 5