Trouble with your knee? What you need to know about knee replacement surgery.

If you have ongoing knee pain, you know it can affect your life. You might struggle to walk a few blocks or climb stairs. The pain can wake you up at night. You avoid activities you used to enjoy, knowing that they’ll cause your pain to flare.

If it’s arthritis that’s behind your knee pain, you might be a candidate for knee replacement surgery, also known as knee arthroplasty.

What is knee replacement surgery?

It’s a procedure in which a surgeon removes the cartilage in your knee that’s been damaged by arthritis, as well as the nearby bone. The joint is replaced with an artificial joint that’s made of smooth metal and plastic parts.

According to the American Association of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS), the procedure has been performed for more than 50 years, and more than 790,000 peoplein the US have a knee replaced each year.

Source: TODAY

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