Dr. O'Connor explains if knee arthritis is a fatal condition.
Dr. O'Connor:
Well, arthritis of the knee itself isn’t fatal, but it can create conditions which could ultimately seriously compromise your health. Unfortunately, there are women that wait and wait and wait to have joint replacement surgery till they are so bad, they are in a wheelchair. And once you get that bad, you know that’s not good for your heart or your lungs or any of your overall health. And so it can definitely contribute to a decline in your health.
About Dr. O'Connor, M.D.:
Dr. Mary O'Connor, M.D., was accepted as a resident in orthopedic surgery at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, New York in 1985. She joined the orthopedic surgery staff at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida in 1991, and since 2005 has served as department chair. Dr. O'Connor cares for people with hip and knee arthritis, failed joint replacements, and pelvic tumors.