If you have arthritis in one of your joints, your doctor might recommend a joint replacement when other forms of treatment don't provide you with pain relief. Common joint replacement surgeries are for the hip, knee, and shoulder, but other joints can be replaced as well. Here's a look at when a joint replacement might be needed for arthritis, an overview of what the surgery does, and some important steps in recovering.

When You Might Need Joint Replacement Surgery

Your doctor will probably try to manage your condition with medications, braces, and other treatments for as long as possible. When your condition advances to the stage where your pain interferes with your life, then it may be time for surgery.

Surgery may also be indicated if your joint becomes stiff or deformed and you're unable to lift your arm or walk due to your condition. A joint replacement could eliminate your pain and improve your mobility.

What The Surgery Entails

You might have a total or partial joint replacement surgery depending on your condition. Some surgeries are open and require a large incision while others are minimally invasive. The procedure typically involves removing part or all of the joint and replacing it with an artificial joint that is capable of the same movements as a real joint.

What Recovery Is Like After Surgery

Your activities will be limited after the procedure, but your doctor may encourage you to transfer to a chair and begin movement as soon as possible so you can prevent complications such as a blood clot. Later, movement is important so you can regain full mobility of the joint and so the joint can heal properly.

You may need to attend physical therapy during the healing phase to put your joint through its full range of motion and to build strength in muscles that support your new joint. Physical therapy is usually an important part of recovery from joint replacement surgery.

Your doctor may even want you to participate in physical therapy before your surgery so your joint and muscles are in good shape and so you can learn how to do the exercises you'll need to do right after the operation.

You may need to take medications right after surgery for pain and to reduce the risk of blood clots since your mobility may be limited. Your doctor will provide you with wound care instructions so the incision won't get infected. It usually takes months to recover from joint surgery, but it depends on the type of surgery you have and your general health.

You might need to take off from work for several weeks depending on how physically demanding your job is. While the recovery period might be fairly long, once you've healed, you should have improved mobility and less pain so you can resume an active lifestyle and have a better quality of life.

Contact your doctor for more information about joint replacement.