JOINT REPLACEMENTS

One of the key prerequisites for a successful joint replacement surgery is a well-informed patient. Every time I come across a new patient, I am met with a new question that has never been asked by any of my previous patients, and this, I believe without a shadow of a doubt, has added more value to my experience spanning over two decades as a Joint Replacement Surgeon. Having witnessed an array of clinical interactions with patients suffering from joint pain, I have many clinical encounters to share, and this book has paved the way for me. I have attempted to consolidate my experiences to help the readers understand, decide, and recover from a joint replacement surgery successfully. Myths Several medical myths scream for attention; while some are harmless, many are downright dangerous. This may be due to the lack of public awareness or even the fear associated with surgery. These myths result in many patients undergoing different forms of alternative therapies like Ayurveda, homeopathy, magnetotherapy, electrotherapy, and several other remedies, which are not curative. After going through the ordeal, the sad part is that they end up suffering from more pain, feeling depressed, and finally will be in need of a more complicated corrective operation. Arthritis has become one of the common problems across the world, affecting people of all age groups. There are more than a hundred types of arthritis, and most of them are not curable through medicines and other therapies. Hence, joint replacement surgery becomes inevitable for patients suffering from end-stage joint diseases, for they deal with severe pain, deformity, and immobility. That said, those patients who have mild arthritis can be relieved of their discomfort with minimal support. For this, however, patients need effective education and assistance to simplify their treatment plans. Putting things in perspective, joint replacement surgeries are one of the most common operations performed across the world, and in the last fifty years, the demand for this has gone through the roof. Patients who are otherwise crippled with harrowing pain are now witnessing tremendous improvement in their quality of life. There is a sharp increase in the number of patients diagnosed with arthritis each year across the world. Arthritis is more common in older people, and the number seems to be growing exponentially. In fact, a study by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for the National Arthritis Data Workgroup (NADW) had revealed that by 2030, the number of people with arthritis or any other rheumatologic condition would increase by a whopping 44% a surge to 67 million! In this book on Joint Replacements - A Patients Handbook, I have answered over a hundred commonly asked questions by my patients. My belief in educating the population on preventive strategies, the merits of several methods of treatments, and their complications has indeed come true with this book. It is a collection of vignettes from my two decades of clinical experience, and I hope that with this book, I will be able to help you with most of your concerns, if not all, regarding joint replacements. I wish you a happy reading. Dr. Narayan Hulse