Manual A. Martinez, M.D.
Orthopaedic Surgeon
Lakewood Hospital

Q. I have arthritis and experience significant knee pain. How do I know when it’s time to have my knee replaced?

A. This is a frequently asked question by my patients and my answer is always consistent: You will know when it’s time!

Arthritis is a progressive condition whereby cartilage lining the bones in joints begins to break down. Once this occurs, it can lead to pain, decreased mobility and deformity of the joints. Eventually, the pain gets to the level that daily activities are affected. At this point, you begin to contemplate your options for pain relief.

As for medications, there are both pills and injection forms that can help alleviate your symptoms of degenerative arthritis. However, there is no medication that has been proven to reverse the degenerative process of arthritis. Most of the medications recommended control the symptoms of pain, decreased mobility and swelling, but when medicines no longer ease the pain; it’s time to consider surgical options.

Initially, cleaning out the joints arthroscopically may assist in some cases, but not always. Therefore, you may need to consider knee replacement, which is actually a resurfacing of the knee joint with metal and plastic components. If your x-rays show significant arthritis in your knee and medical treatment has not been successful, then you may be a candidate for knee replacement.

Additionally, you need to consider your quality of life. You may eventually get to the point when you can no longer enjoy your favorite activities and your overall wellbeing is affected. Once that point of frustration is reached, total knee replacement may be the only option for your relief. While knee replacement is an individual decision based on the severity of your pain and disability, it is often the light at the end of a long tunnel of pain and frustration; therefore, you will know when it’s time to proceed with knee replacement.

Following total knee or hip replacement surgery at Lakewood Hospital, patients receive personalized medical attention. Highly trained nurses and therapists focus on providing outstanding care so that patients achieve the best outcome possible.

Dr. Martinez is board-certified in orthopaedics. His special interests are sports medicine and primary hip and knee joint replacement. For more information on any of the outstanding orthopaedic surgeons on staff at Lakewood Hospital, please call 216.227.BONE (2663).

New Orthopaedic Unit
Lakewood Hospital Orthopaedic Unit offers patients private patient rooms in a modern, warm and healing atmosphere.

Take a tour of our orthopaedic unit and download a free guide, including questions to ask your orthopaedic surgeon, at lakewoodhospital.org/orthotour

We also offer free educational joint replacement classes led by our expert staff. Family members or caregivers are strongly encouraged to attend the class with you.

Lastly, after your surgery, we offer a full scope of outpatient rehabilitation services at the Westlake Medical Campus, Lakewood YMCA and Lakewood Hospital.

For more information, or for an orthopaedic referral, please call 216.227.BONE (2663).