Beachwood Buzz Magazine - July 2016 Page 42

42 Beachwood Buzz

July 2016

Jeffrey Shroyer, MD

Recovery time

after surgery has

been shortened

considerably, but this

depends on your

motivation, physical

condition before

surgery and willingness

to do the necessary

therapy after surgery.

Is Joint Replacement Right for You?

You probably know someone who had

a knee or hip replaced. It's becoming
commonplace among aging baby boomers
and active seniors who want to pursue the
activities they enjoy pain free. In fact, nearly
800,000 people get a knee or hip joint
replaced annually.

There are three main reasons people

choose to undergo joint replacement
surgery. According to Jeffrey Shroyer, MD,
a joint replacement and sports medicine
specialist, they are:
· Improve quality of life "The big issue

for most people is the pain, which impacts
their ability to get around and/or limits
their daily activities," he says. For instance,
climbing stairs, walking, taking care of
yourself, golfing or exercising, and going
on excursions are difficult to do.

"The pain can be so severe that you risk

losing your independence and doing the
activities you enjoy," Dr. Shroyer says.

· Address safety issues The joint causes

the person's leg to give out, you risk
falling and perhaps, breaking a bone or
hurting yourself.

· Sleep better "A number of people have

such bad pain that it wakes them up at
night," Dr. Shroyer says.
Not so long ago, people believed that new

joints only lasted a set period of time. "That was
probably the biggest myth that a device only
lasted 10 years," Dr. Shroyer says. "That's really
not the case. For the majority of our patients
they can expect their device to last for the rest
of their life." The materials used in the joints has
improved, making it likely a hip joint will last 20
to 25 years and a knee 15 to 25 years.

"What really matters is how you take care of

the new joint and yourself," he says. For instance,
avoiding infections around the new joint and/
or abusing the new joint through excessive wear
and tear can lead to complications.

People also thought they had to live

with pain until they became a certain age.

"Although delaying joint replacement

surgery is usually recommended, there
really is not an upper or lower age limit
for patients in order to be considered
for joint replacement," Dr. Shroyer says.
"Pain, quality of life and health are the
most important factors to consider when
making this decision."

Among the factors to consider if you're

thinking about joint replacement surgery are:
· Overall medical condition and health
· Current weight People with a body mass

index of 40 and above may not be able to
have the surgery

· Risk factors, such as smoking, high blood

pressure and diabetes
Recovery time after surgery has been

shortened considerably, but this depends on
your motivation, physical condition before
surgery and willingness to do the necessary
therapy after surgery.

"The rehabilitation is very accelerated," Dr.

Shroyer says. "Right after your surgery, you're
usually up and moving. Within 48 hours, you
can expect to go home."

"It's important to engage your family or

someone a friend, community member or
professional caregiver who can help you
while you recover," he says. "They'll need to
provide external support, such as helping
with meals, bathing, dressing and cleaning,
until you can get around on your own."

If severe pain and joint damage are

limiting your daily activities and affecting
your quality of life, University Hospitals
can help.

Dr. Shroyer sees patients at UH Ahuja

Medical Center and other UH locations.
To make an appointment with him or to
get a list of our specialists in the area call
1-866-UH4-CARE (1-866-844-2273).