Myth 1: Knee replacement is a surgery for old people. I'm too young for a total knee replacement in India.
Fact: Candidacy for a total knee replacement in India is not based on age but on the person's level of pain and immobility. Living with a painful joint that prohibits you from working or participating in normal life activities is an outdated way of thinking. Age is not necessarily a limiting factor.
Myth 2: I should wait as long as possible, to undergo knee replacement surgery in India.
Fact: You don't need to suffer by waiving until the pain is intolerable. The longer life of joint replacements enables people to consider surgery earlier and at a younger age. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease that continues to damage the joint and delaying surgery makes both surgeries and return to activity more difficult.
Myth 3: I should continue with medications as long as possible.
Fact: Medicines including painkillers just give symptomatic relief for a temporary duration and prolonged usage is riddled with serious side effects such as renal failure, peptic ulceration, etc.
Myth 4: Alternative therapies such as acupressure, ozone treatment, massage beds, oils, laser therapy, magnetic therapy, and braces will cure my advanced arthritis and knee pain.
Fact: To date, there is NO cure for advanced knee arthritis and these alternative therapies are not backed by any established scientific data. All these modalities give temporary pain relief in early to moderate arthritis for some duration only and are NOT curative.
Myth 5: After a knee replacement, it takes months to recover.
Fact: Depending on the activity, most patients who undergo knee replacement are able to perform routine tasks within a few weeks. One becomes independent for self before being discharged from the hospital.
