The most difficult obstacle to resolving knee pain and possibly receiving a knee replacement is finding good, unbiased information. Doctors sometimes tend to be too busy to take time to explain things in depth and clearly. Sometimes there are other alternatives which some doctors don't believe in or don't know about, yet could be the perfect solution to your problem. That is the purpose of Knees for You Knee Replacement Guide - to give a patient information about knee replacement.

I had a hip resurfacing in 2006. Many doctors at the time did not know about hip resurfacing and many did not want to train to learn the difficult surgery, so the way I learned about hip resurfacing was thru the internet and discussion groups. There are often new approaches to solving problems that some doctors have not been trained in or have chosen not to accept - that does not mean it is not right for your problem. Therefore, I started the Knees for You Guide to Knee Replacement to help give perspective patients information about many aspects of knee replacement. Having good information will help you decide what you think is the right solution to your problem. It will, also, help you understand what your doctor is suggesting.

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There are three basic types of knee replacements:

Fixed Bearing Total Knee Systems: Both sides of the knee (the inside or medial compartment and outside or lateral compartment) are replaced in a single total knee replacement procedure, and with this type of device the plastic insert is fixed in place.

Mobile Bearing Total Knee Systems: Similar to that above, but with a plastic insert which is able to move within the joint, allowing more natural and complex knee movements and possibly creating less wear.

Unicompartmental Knee Systems: This type of replacement is used where disease is limited to one compartment in the knee, and is effectively a "half-knee" replacement.

There are many types of knees available and approaches to the surgery, but how does a patient decide what is best for them? Dr. Waldman suggests:

"Multiple studies have shown that the overall success in knee replacement can be traced to the surgeon and the team that cares for the patient during and after surgery. Surgeons and centers that do large numbers of implants have more success, on the average, than surgeons who do this type of surgery less often. When considering a doctor, it's important to ask how many operations of this type they do each year and what their personal outcomes are. The hospital they use should have a dedicated joint center and do a large number of joint replacements each year. It is also important to find a physician that responds in a timely manner to phone calls and patient requests."

You can read Dr. Waldman's complete article here: What Should A Patient Know?

Read and learn as much as you can. The more information you know, the better prepared you will be to ask questions of your doctor and make a good decision about your knee pain and knee replacement.