Surgery to replace a joint is an option when your pain has become too severe to manage and/or your function is substantially impaired and other treatment options have not been successful. If you are considering surgery, you should discuss your feelings and concerns with your doctor. If your doctor considers you eligible for surgery, he or she will refer you to an orthopedic surgeon. As with all surgeries, joint replacement surgery is not without risk. Factors that increase surgical risk are your age, being overweight/obese, and your other chronic conditions. On the other hand, successful joint replacement surgery can make you pain-free at least in terms of the affected OA joint. The most common OA surgeries are knee and hip replacement surgeries.
