So, you’re thinking about knee or hip replacement surgery… it’s a big decision. Alongside getting a mortgage, starting a family, and walking your children down the aisle, major surgery is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make in your lifetime. And yet… have you thought about it much? Have you thought about what surgery will mean for you in the future, for your family, or for your mobility? There’s a lot at stake. It takes careful consideration, and oftentimes you’ll need to ask yourself some hard hitting questions. We know it isn’t easy, and it can feel as though you just don’t know where to start. But, don’ worry, we’re here to help. Keep reading to see three of the most important questions you need to ask yourself before undergoing knee or hip replacement surgery. 

Have you tried more conservative methods other than surgery? 

    Sometimes it feels as though knee or hip surgery is the only option, and more often than not this feeling is a result of months or years of accumulated, constant pain. You just want to make it disappear, right? Well, the thing is, you have to ask yourself if you’ve tried every possible alternative before going under the scalpel,  as hard as that may be right now. Why? Well, surgery can be life altering in many different ways and, sadly, it may not even solve the problem in the end. So, ask yourself, have you tried more conservative methods? What about physical therapy? 

​    Physical therapy is the most effective and safest way of treating knee and hip pain without undergoing surgery. Why? Well, it’s not invasive in the least and it actually treats the root cause of the problem. In other words, physical therapy doesn’t just treat the pain, it treats the actual issue in order to facilitate permanent health and wellbeing. Surgery just cannot do this. Doesn’t that sound so much better than painkillers and a scar? 

Have you been told knee or hip replacement surgery is your only option… by your surgeon? 

    Sadly, all too many knee and hip replacement surgeries are undertaken at the behest of a single person… usually the surgeon. Though shocking, this is more common than you think, as most surgeries are never queried for a second opinion or an alternative treatment. Again, this is largely due to accumulated pain and frustration on the part of the patient – all he/she wants is for the pain to disappear.  

    Yet, it is absolutely vital that each suggestion for a surgery is followed up by a second opinion. Why? Well, because hip or knee surgery is a life-altering decision and shouldn’t be taken lightly.  The best authority to offer you an unbiased, professional one is a physical therapist. Physical therapists aim to treat the root cause of the problem so that you do not have to live in pain – his/her opinion will always follow an in-depth consultation and diagnosis, and will always have your best interests at heart. You will get the answers you need in order to make an informed decision about your surgery.  If you could be treated without the trauma of surgery, wouldn’t you want to know if that’s an option? 

Is surgery really your last hope, or is a nonsurgical option still on the table? 

    Surgery should always be your absolute last option – there is no going back from the operating table, and anything changed, altered, or hurt during your surgery cannot be undone. That’s why it’s imperative that you take every precaution to avoid undergoing the knife. 

  Physical therapy can put your mind at ease about your decision, as qualified, professional physical therapists will be able to fully comprehend your issue. If physical therapy can treat the cause, eradicate the pain, and get you back to living the pain free life you deserve to live, isn’t it worth a try? A life without painkillers, daily debilitating pain, post-surgical trauma, and the possibility of re-occurring issues down the line truly is a possibility for you – don’t give up, physical therapy really can help you. 

​  Too many people think of physical therapy as the ‘after care’ for surgery. Most individuals think of physical therapists as those who teach patients how to regain mobility after undergoing invasive operations. While this may be the truth in part, physical therapy is a lot more involved than the last phase of a surgical cycle.   In fact, physical therapy is much more interested in keeping you away from the operating table. In other words, physical therapy is much more about preventative medicine than anything else. If you are able to increase your mobility now, to treat the root cause of the problem now, to achieve a pain free life now… wouldn’t that be amazing? And that’s exactly what physical therapy does. Yes, physical therapy helps individuals recover from surgery, but the most incredible thing about physical therapy is that is can help keep those individuals out of the hospital theatre in the first place! 

    If you’re reading this and thinking… “Why haven’t I tried physical therapy yet?”, then I hope you are now considering reaching out. There is absolutely nothing to lose… while there is everything to gain. For treatment that finds and treats the root cause of your problem, that offers professional, hands-on advice and care, for an ongoing program of stretches and exercise that helps you maintain a pain free life at home, and for access to a more mobile, energetic, and pain free life, physical therapy is the answer.   Ask yourself the above questions, be honest, and then come back to a space where surgery is the last option. Don’t make a decision you’ll regret – reach out now and chat to one of our hands on, professional, friendly physical therapists in order to start getting the answers you need and deserve in order to live the life you’ve been dreaming of.