40 and facing joint replacement?

Mention joint replacement surgery to just about anyone and they probably think of their dear old grandmother who needed a new hip. Surely joint replacement isn't something young, active, healthy people need to think about. Or is it?

It's not entirely common for younger people to develop severe arthritis, but arthritis usually begins to develop in the 40s. If a person has sustained an injury or had years of wear and tear on a joint from sports or other activities, having serious pain at a younger age can be expected. If that pain interferes with daily activities or sleep, it's time to talk to a doctor to discuss treatment options — short-term therapy to stave off the pain or a permanent solution, which may be joint replacement surgery.

"Nonsurgical treatment is always the first step," said Jonathan Yerasimides, M.D., orthopedic surgeon who specializes in hip replacement with Norton Orthopaedic Specialists – Brownsboro. "A high percentage of patients will get real relief from simple things like anti-inflammatory medications, therapy, cortisone injections and activity modification. Sometimes these things can take people 6 to 12 months, sometimes one to two years, before their symptoms come back and are severe enough that they'll want to undergo joint replacement surgery."

LEARN MORE: Find additional articles on health-related issues from Norton Healthcare

Today, there are different surgical techniques to speed recovery and healing. According to Dr. Yerasimides, patients should be able to get back to a low level of activity within a few weeks. Higher levels of activity require a little more therapy and strengthening but are completely doable. Athletes and individuals who enjoy fitness activities have no reason to think they cannot get back to their previous activities after joint replacement.

An important point to consider when faced with treatment options for joint pain is that if surgery is inevitable and you are otherwise healthy, it may be best to not put it off. Educate yourself, talk to your doctor (or multiple doctors) and know the pros and cons of each treatment option.

Hear from an active, healthy, fit man who had hip replacement surgery when he was 39. Learn what recovery is like and how he got back to an active lifestyle at NortonHealthcare.com/Joint .

Want to know if knee or hip replacement surgery may be in your future? Take a 5-minute online risk assessment to learn where you stand.

This story is provided and presented by our sponsor, Norton Healthcare