Knee Surgery Info

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More than 600,000 Americans are expected to have their hips or knees replaced this year, at a cost near $37,000 for each surgery.

In the first survey of its kind, Consumer Reports questioned patients to see how they fare once they leave the hospital.

Janet Carville had her hip replaced almost four years ago. Before that, she had used a walker, because her osteoarthritis was so bad.

“Constant pain, day and night, no matter what I did. I was on so many pain pills it was scary,” said Carville.

Now Carville’s pain is gone and that seems to be fairly typical, according to Consumer Reports. It just surveyed more than 1000 people who’ve undergone hip and knee surgery within the past six years.

“Most of the people in our survey were in a lot of pain from their aching joint before they had the operation, yet six months later they said they were in minimal pain. It really helps,” said Nancy Metcalf of Consumer Reports.

Just one month after surgery, about 90 percent of the joint-replacement patients had little trouble getting up out of a chair or bed. But not everyone’s outcome is as successful as Carville’s. She’s able to walk more than a mile these days.

“Unfortunately, not everybody makes a 100 percent recovery. About a third of the hip patients and a quarter of the knee patients still could not walk a half a mile or more a year after surgery,” said Metcalf.

Still, a hefty 82 percent of those surveyed said they were highly satisfied with their joint replacement.

“Three or four months, I think, by then I really felt this is good. I’m glad I had it done,” said Carville.

Knee Surgery

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