As an orthopaedic surgeon specializing in hip and knee replacement, I often meet patients who have lived with joint pain far longer than they should—missing out on favorite activities, losing sleep and feeling increasingly limited. If pain in your hip or knee no longer improves with activity modification, over-the-counter medications like Tylenol or NSAIDs, physical therapy or even joint injections—and especially if it wakes you at night, interferes with work or keeps you from doing what you love—it may be time to consider joint replacement.
Thanks to advances in surgical techniques, joint replacement is safer and more effective than ever. Minimally invasive techniques, such as the direct anterior approach for hip replacement, avoid cutting through muscle and allow for quicker recovery and less postoperative pain. Additionally, robotic-assisted surgery enables highly personalized implant positioning, improving both precision and long-term outcomes.
One of the most remarkable advances is the ability to perform same-day joint replacement. For appropriately selected patients, hip and knee replacements can now be done in the morning, with the patient returning home later that same day. A key to this success is the use of improved anesthesia techniques, such as spinal and regional nerve blocks, which eliminate the need for general anesthesia and breathing tubes in most cases. These approaches significantly reduce side effects like nausea, grogginess and confusion, allowing patients to wake up more alert and comfortable. Combined with multimodal pain management, these techniques support an enhanced recovery after surgery, with many patients walking within just a few hours of their procedure. Recovering in the comfort and safety of home, supported by home nursing and physical therapy, often leads to faster rehabilitation, higher patient satisfaction and fewer complications.
Modern implants are also incredibly durable. With proper care, today’s joint replacements can last 20 years or more, helping patients regain not just mobility but a fulfilling, active lifestyle.
If chronic joint pain is limiting your life, a consultation with an orthopaedic specialist could be the first step toward getting back to the life you love.
Todd A. Morrison, MD, is an orthopaedic surgeon with Yale Medicine, who treats degenerative conditions in hip and knee joints. He is also an Assistant Professor in the Yale University School of Medicine’s Department of Orthopaedics & Rehabilitation.
