While on vacation, my husband and I met a woman from Canada who had several body parts surgically replaced.
Her knee, hip and ankle had all been replaced. Her scars were fading. She mentioned that she no longer had the aches and pains in her joints after her surgeries.
She said, “I don’t expect to ever be 100 percent again but I will take 90 percent.” The reason for her replacement surgeries was osteoarthritis.
For the last couple of years, my husband has been complaining about his knee and has been thinking about knee replacement surgery. Knee replacement surgery costs between $35,000-$50,000. That is per knee, folks.
The Healthcare Research and Quality federal agency said that in 2008, “hospitals charged an average of $45,783 for a patient stay of three to five days for a total knee replacement.”
So, my husband needs to think long and hard about his decision. He also needs to understand that this decision needs to be well-evaluated and, well, the last and final medical alternative.
Also, his new parts need to be replaced after 10 to 15 years. He will not be Steve Austin, the Bionic Man, after his surgery. We have insurance but we may have to pay up to $6,000 for costs that may not be covered.
According to CBS NEWS, about 600,000 knee replacement surgeries are done each year nationwide on adults of all ages, costing a total of $9 billion.
In other knee replacement news, USA Today stated that over the last 20 years, the number of Medicare patients who have had total knee replacement surgeries has soared by more than 161.5 percent.
If you are considering knee replacement surgery here are things you should know:
• Know the difference between total knee placement surgery and partial knee replacement surgery. For example, partial knee replacement replaces only the damaged area and total knee replacement replace the entire joint.
• AARP says that your new joint will be made of “an alloy of cobalt, chrome or titanium, and a plastic compound called polyethylene”.
• Recover time can vary. You could be in the hospital up to three days and in rehabilitation for an additional seven days.
• Select an experienced surgeon and hospital carefully.
• Be realistic about your outcome. Don’t expect to become an Olympic athlete after your procedure.
• Expect to return to work after two weeks if your job is not labor intensive. However, if you job is very physical expect a longer recovery time up to several months.
References:
Johnson, W. L. Knee replacement surgeries for elderly Americans more than double in 20 years - HealthPop - CBS News. Breaking News Headlines: Business, Entertainment & World News - CBS News. Retrieved September 26, 2012, from
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-57520775-10391704/knee-replacement-surgeries-for-elderly-americans-more-than-double-in-20-years
Levin, B. Knee Replacement Surgery: What Is It?, Cost, Recovery - AARP Bulletin. AARP - Health, Travel Deals, Baby Boomers, Election News, Over 50, Online Games, Retirement Plan. Retrieved September 26, 2012, from
http://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-03-2011/knee-replacement-surgery.3.html
Lloyd, J. Knee replacements on the increase among older adults USATODAY.com. News, Travel, Weather, Entertainment, Sports, Technology, U.S. & World - USATODAY.com. Retrieved September 26, 2012, from
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012/09/25/knee-replacements-on-the-increase-among-older-adults/57841616/1?csp=34news
Romualdez, I. The Average Cost of Knee Replacement Surgery | eHow.com. eHow | How to Videos, Articles & More - Discover the expert in you. | eHow.com. Retrieved September 26, 2012, from
http://www.ehow.com/about_5615915_average-cost-knee-replacement-surgery.html
Reviewed September 27, 2012
by Michele Blacksberg RN
Edited by Jody Smith