Watching life from the sidelines is no fun but it can be confusing to know when it’s time to move forward and have hip or knee replacement. Making that decision can feel overwhelming – we understand. We’re here to help. At Nova, we’ve simplified the decision process. Just answer three quick questions. If you say yes to all three, then it’s time to meet with a Best Practice Certified Joint Replacement surgeon and discuss your options. And we can help with that too . . .
Let’s take the first step together >>>
Here are the questions that need to be covered. Our Patient Coordinator, Yvonne, is happy to walk you through this in a short phone call.
1. Is your pain caused by arthritis?
There are many reasons for hip and knee pain, but more than 94% of joint replacements are done because of severe arthritis.
The easiest way to know if arthritis is the cause – and how bad it is – is to check your x-ray report. A radiologist will dictate their assessment of your arthritis severity, often using a 1-4 scale or terms like mild, moderate, severe or marked.
I don’t have my report ... Contact the center where your x-ray was taken and ask for a copy.
*Note: Orthopedic surgeons like to start with an x-ray done within the last 6 months. If you have not had one, contact your primary care doctor or imaging center to get started.
2. Is your pain severe enough for joint replacement?
Orthopedic surgeons don’t just look at your x-rays – they ask how pain is affecting your daily life. To make this easier, experts have created short surveys that help determine if joint replacement might be the right next step.
You can take one of these surveys for free.
It only takes a few minutes – and it could be the most important step toward relief.
3. Have you tried all the right non-surgical treatments?
Joint replacement surgery – especially when done by a Best Practice Certified Orthopedic Surgeon in the right setting – is very safe. But surgery should always come after other proven treatments have been tried.
Orthopedic surgeons typically recommend a full course of physical therapy first. In some cases, a steroid injection into the hip or knee can also help reduce inflammation and pain.
At Nova, our patient care team has an 85% accuracy rate in predicting which patients an orthopedic surgeon will recommend for knee replacement or hip replacement. Our secret? A short interview where we listen to your story and review your x-ray and treatment history.
Call Now to Talk with Yvonne. She’ll:
- Listen to your knee or hip pain story.
- Go over your x-ray report to determine if your pain is due to moderate or severe arthritis.
- Review what treatments you’ve already tried.
- Administer a short joint assessment survey
Call Now to Talk with Yvonne: 281-305-1415
