Sy Schlager: The Benefits of Knee Replacement Surgery

Dr. Sy Schlager: Knee Replacements Lead To Overall Improvement In Health

Thousands of Americans have and still suffer from overwhelming knee and joint pain. This debilitating condition causes such extreme pain for some that they cannot walk or even take part any sort of physical activities anymore. For those people who opted to receive knee replacement surgery the results have been impressive. As noted physician Sy Schlager describes, patients have experienced an overall increase in health and quality of life.

Dr. Sy Schlager: Osteoarthritis Extremely Painful

Sy Schlager notes that most patients who have opted to have knee replacement surgery suffer from osteoarthritis. This causes extreme pain in joints. For many who suffer from osteoarthritis even walking from their office to the elevator to go home at the end of the day was a huge task. In may cases patients have experienced increased risk for heart disease, depression, as well as weight gain. The sheer lack of physical activity caused by knee pain is staggering.  For many who wish to be active and remain active for the rest of their lives knee replacement is a wonderful option.

Dr. Sy Schlager: Improving The Quality of Life.

In a study of Medicare records from 1997 to 2009, over 54,000 people have undergone successful knee replacement surgeries. Just three years after their surgeries on average, people had lowered their risk for heart disease by 11%. In most cases this is due to the increase in physical activity allowed by having a new knee.

Sy Schlager recognizes that many patients with a bad knee are at risk for heart disease because they are overweight. They are overweight because they can no longer exercise, let alone walk around. After knee surgery, many patients find themselves again riding bikes and swimming within a matter of weeks.

Sy Schlager: Mobility Improves the Quality of Life

Dr. Sy Schlager also reports that increased exercise also leads to a decrease in depression. It has been understood for some time that physical activity releases endorphins that are key to fighting depression.

Ideally, improving quality of life is the main goal of these surgeries or any surgery notes Dr. Sy Schlager. Doctors want to know that by performing a procedure they significantly improve the way a patient lives. If a surgery would not improve that, then there is no point in risking an operation.