KNEE & HIP Replacement Center

Sponsored by

• KNEE Replacement Guide

  • How the Knee Works
  • Knee Pain & Its Causes
  • Evaluation Tests
  • Treatments
    • Lifestyle Changes
    • Medications & Pain Management
    • Surgical Procedures
    • Preparing for Your Joint Replacement Procedure
  • Talking to Your Doctor
  • A Patient's Story

HIP Replacement Guide

< Back to Knee & Hip Home

Talking to Your Doctor

Building a partnership with a physician that addresses your needs is crucial. You need to be assertive, ask questions, get options to choose from, and make sure that you are comfortable with the plan.

Doctors are busy people, but that doesn't mean they don't want you to ask questions. Here are some steps that may help establish good communications:

• Prepare questions ahead of time. Make a list of your most important concerns and problems. Issues you might want to discuss with your physician are changes in your symptoms, medications or your general health.
• Enlist the help of the nurse. Nurses are sometimes called "patient advocates"—which means they look out for you. Your nurse may help answer questions about various tests and examinations, surgical procedures, recovery and rehabilitation.
• Make sure your appointment meets your needs. When you schedule your appointment, be sure you convey clearly the reasons for your visit so that enough time is allowed. If you can, schedule your appointment for a time when you can be as relaxed as possible. If you think of questions after the doctor leaves the room, be sure to stop and tell someone in the office. You can leave your questions and the doctor or one of his staff members can call you back with the answers.

Am I a Candidate for Partial or Total Knee Replacement?

• Do you have pain, swelling and stiffness in your knee?

• Do the pain and stiffness in your knee interfere with your daily life, and limit your ability to be as active as you would like?

• Has the pain become progressively worse?

• Do you regularly take pain relievers to ease the pain?

• Do you use a cane or walker to get around?

• Do you sometimes or always limp when you walk?

Answering "yes" to any one of those questions could indicate that you have advanced arthritis in your knee(s). If nonsurgical interventions such as medication, physical therapy and the use of a cane or other walking aid no longer help alleviate the pain, you might consider talking to your physician about knee replacement.