Knee Pain and Knee Replacement Surgery

Why choose Ochsner Health for knee pain care and knee replacement surgery?

Every time you go for a walk after dinner, play with your grandchildren in the park, hike a trail or climb stairs, your knees are hard at work. You depend on your knees for daily activities and the pursuits that make life meaningful. Chronic knee pain, however, can stand in the way of an active, fulfilling life. At Ochsner, we provide comprehensive care for knee pain, including knee replacement surgery, for patients from Louisiana, Mississippi and beyond who are ready to stop letting discomfort limit them.

You may think surgery is the only solution for chronic knee pain, but that’s not the case at all. Our multidisciplinary team of experts will work with you to identify your most appropriate treatment. For many people, conservative therapies, such as taking anti-inflammatory medication or working with a physical therapist, are effective. Knee replacement surgery, also called knee arthroplasty, may be appropriate if nonsurgical treatments don’t work for you. Our team includes four fellowship-trained surgeons who use the most up-to-date surgical techniques to reduce postoperative pain and help patients to a fast recovery.

Several factors set Ochsner apart as a provider of knee pain care and knee replacement surgery, including:

Commitment to leading-edge care. Our team embraces innovation to ensure we offer the highest quality care to our patients. We’re a regional leader in Mako robotic-arm-assisted knee replacement, a minimally invasive procedure that helps our surgeons position implants with greater precision. We’re exploring additional technologies that would allow our surgeons to perform knee replacement surgeries that are more customized to each patient’s anatomy.

Convenience. We want to make your care experience as convenient and seamless as possible. That’s why we offer virtual visits and same-day knee replacement surgery when appropriate.

Honors for excellence. U.S. News & World Report named Ochsner Medical Center - New Orleans a “High Performing” Hospital for Knee Replacement care. In 2021, Olympic Medical Center and Ochsner Hospital for Orthopedics & Sports Medicine received the Gold Seal of Approval for Advanced Total Hip and Total Knee Replacement Certification from the Joint Commission. We’re also a Center of Excellence for knee replacement for certain major employers.

Multidisciplinary approach. Our surgeons partner with anesthesiologists, nurse practitioners, rehabilitation therapists and social workers to provide comprehensive, well-rounded care. A dedicated phone line for joint patients ensures 24/7 access to the team so patients can get answers to their questions.

Chronic knee pain is the most common problem we treat. A variety of conditions can lead to long-term knee pain. In many cases, chronic knee pain is the result of damage that builds up over time due to diseases such as arthritis. In other cases, however, acute injuries can lead to persistent pain.

Several types of arthritis can damage the knee joint, including:

Osteoarthritis. This common type of arthritis destroys cartilage, the tissue that helps the bones in the knee joint move smoothly. Over time, wear and tear from arthritis can eliminate cartilage in the knee joint, leaving bones grinding against each other and causing pain.

Post-traumatic arthritis. In some cases, an injury to the knee can cause arthritis, such as osteoarthritis, to develop later.

Rheumatoid arthritis. An autoimmune disease, rheumatoid arthritis causes the immune system to attack the lining of the knee joint, causing inflammation.

Septic arthritis. Also known as infectious arthritis, septic arthritis occurs when an infection spreads to the knee from another part of the body. This can cause pain, swelling and other symptoms.

In addition to chronic knee pain due to arthritis, our team also treats pain resulting from abnormal formation or alignment of the joint.

We offer a range of treatment options for knee pain, starting with conservative therapies. A few steps you can take at home may be all you need to relieve pain and stiffness. These include pausing activities that cause discomfort, applying ice and heat packs to the joint and wearing a knee sleeve for compression. You can also elevate your leg as much as possible.

Additional conservative therapies our team may recommend include:

Anti-inflammatory pain medication

Assistive devices, such as splints

Cortisone injections for pain relief

Joint aspiration to remove fluid from the knee

Physical therapy to improve muscle strength and range of motion

Occupational therapy to help you learn how to perform everyday tasks in ways that are easier on your knees

Weight loss services to help you get to and maintain a healthy weight, which will decrease stress on your knees

For many people, nonsurgical treatments provide the pain relief they’re looking for to help them stay active and do the things they love. If, however, you’ve tried several conservative treatments and knee pain still interferes with your quality of life, partial or total knee replacement surgery may be a good option for you. Our fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeons use the latest surgical techniques, including robot-assisted minimally invasive surgeries, to help patients enjoy life with less knee pain.

There’s a lot to know about knee replacement surgery and recovery. Going into your surgery, we want you to feel as prepared and empowered as possible so you’ll have the best chance to thrive afterward. That’s where our Joint Boot Camp class comes in.

A two-hour seminar you can attend online or in-person, Joint Boot Camp is your opportunity to learn more about how to prepare for surgery, who will be part of your care team, what your surgery will entail and what to expect from recovery. A physical therapist, occupational therapist, nurse and social worker will lead the class. We encourage you to bring a friend or family member who will support you before and after surgery.

FAQs

This surgery significantly reduces knee pain for many patients and allows them to enjoy a higher quality of life. Following your post-surgery recovery plan is key to long-term success. Knee replacement surgery will not, however, cure arthritis, and it does not guarantee the joint will be pain-free moving forward.

Complications from this surgery are rare, but certain problems, such as infections and blood clots, may occur. You may receive an antibiotic to treat an infection. Blood-thinning medications can help prevent blood clots.

Many patients experience some pain for a few weeks after surgery. You can manage this discomfort by taking an anti-inflammatory medication or another medicine designed to relieve pain.