Cleveland Clinic

You don't have to live with joint pain.

Our Cleveland Clinic orthopaedic specialists offer non-surgical and surgical options to get you moving again.

While being overweight does not necessarily cause arthritis, it can contribute to early joint problems that can get worse quickly.

Fortunately, there are a variety of nonsurgical treatment options available to help relieve chronic pain and restore range of motion in your joints.

Nonsurgical treatment for joint pain can include:

Weight loss.
Activity modification.
Supportive aids, such as a brace, a cane, or an orthotic device in the shoe.
Injections or cortisone shots to temporarily relieve pain and inflammation in your joints.
Viscosupplementation injections to lubricate joints.
Physical therapy.
Acetaminophen (Tylenol®) or anti-inflammatory drugs (e.g., ibuprofen).
Topical treatments such as ointments or gels.
Exercise, such as walking, swimming, other low-impact aerobic exercise and gentle stretching. (Check with your doctor before beginning or continuing any exercise program.)

If nonsurgical treatment options no longer help alleviate pain and you can no longer do the things you want, like and need to do, it may be time to consider joint replacement surgery.

Who is a candidate for joint replacement surgery?

People who are candidates for joint replacement surgery often have severe joint pain, stiffness, muscle weakness, limited motion, and swelling. Depending on the joint that is affected and the amount of damage, patients may have trouble with ordinary activities such as walking, putting on socks and shoes, getting into and out of cars, and climbing stairs.

“If your pain affects your daily routine, it may be time to see an orthopaedic specialist,” says Peter Surace, MD, an orthopaedic surgeon specializing in hip and knee surgery who treats patients at Cleveland Clinic Medina Hospital Medical Office Building. “We usually try non-surgical treatments first – including the use of anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy and cortisone injections. If you’ve already tried these things to address the problem and you’re still having symptoms that interfere with your life or pain that keeps you up at night, it’s time to think about joint replacement surgery.”

For those who may think they are too young, or too old, for joint replacement surgery, Dr. Surace explains that there is no age requirement. “There are 90-year-olds whose joints are in better condition that some 60-year-olds,” he says. “Age is a common reason for joint problems, but family history, gender, overuse and injuries can also be responsible.”

Who is a candidate for joint replacement surgery?

People who are candidates for joint replacement surgery often have severe joint pain, stiffness, muscle weakness, limited motion, and swelling. Depending on the joint that is affected and the amount of damage, patients may have trouble with ordinary activities such as walking, putting on socks and shoes, getting into and out of cars, and climbing stairs.

“If your pain affects your daily routine, it may be time to see an orthopaedic specialist,” says Peter Surace, MD, an orthopaedic surgeon specializing in hip and knee surgery who treats patients at Cleveland Clinic Medina Hospital Medical Office Building. “We usually try non-surgical treatments first – including the use of anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy and cortisone injections. If you’ve already tried these things to address the problem and you’re still having symptoms that interfere with your life or pain that keeps you up at night, it’s time to think about joint replacement surgery.”

For those who may think they are too young, or too old, for joint replacement surgery, Dr. Surace explains that there is no age requirement. “There are 90-year-olds whose joints are in better condition that some 60-year-olds,” he says. “Age is a common reason for joint problems, but family history, gender, overuse and injuries can also be responsible.”

Part of the reason I chose to practice in a more rural community is the ability it gives me to build continuity with patients.

Richard Guttman Jr., MD

Don’t delay treatment. Your safety is our #1 priority.

“Many people put off medical appointments and surgeries because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In some cases, those delays have led to us seeing more advanced or difficult cases,” says Peter Surace, MD, an orthopaedic surgeon who treats patients at Cleveland Clinic Medina Hospital.

“When nonsurgical treatment is no longer working and surgery is delayed, pain and mobility problems increase. And when you are weaker and out of condition before surgery, rehabilitation after surgery can be more challenging. It can also make the surgery itself more difficult.”

Cleveland Clinic has taken every precaution to ensure the safety of patients, providers and employees during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic so there is no time like the present to take the steps needed to make a positive difference in your overall health and function.

Peter Surace, MD

Knee Replacement Surgery

The knee is one of the most used joints in the body. Unfortunately, that means it can be overused to the point of injury. The good news is that it can be treated.

Surgery may be an option if you have long-lasting knee pain that does not lessen with medication or physical therapy and exercise. Different surgical options include arthroscopy, joint replacement and robotic-assisted partial or total knee replacement.

“If you’re a candidate for joint replacement surgery, robotic joint replacement is an option,” says Dr. Surace. “It’s a technology that helps us to do our job more precisely and to offer a more customized approach that is tailored to the individual patient.”

Robotic-assisted surgery has the potential to speed recovery compared to standard procedures, allowing the surgeon to take into account the patient’s own anatomy and their soft tissue structure. Issues with alignment (for example, being bow-legged from arthritis) can be addressed on an individualized basis to not only reduce pain and improve function, but also to improve the alignment of the joint.

Hip Replacement Surgery

Surgeons perform more than 90% of hip replacements on adults older than 50.

You might be a good candidate for a hip replacement if symptoms in your hip are making it hard (or impossible) to participate in your daily routine or if pain and other symptoms in your hip affect your ability to stand, walk and move. Most people who get a hip replacement try other, more conservative treatments like medication, physical therapy or using a cane or walker before needing surgery.

“Most hip replacements are outpatient surgeries, which means you can go home the same day. Although some patients may need to stay in the hospital overnight,” says Dr. Surace.

Most people who have a hip replacement experience a dramatic decrease in their symptoms — especially pain and stiffness.

Once you’re fully recovered, you should have increased mobility and range of motion (how well and how far you can move your hip). A hip replacement usually makes it easier to walk, climb stairs and do other physical activities.

According to Dr. Surace, “The prosthetic hips used in hip replacements usually last a long time. Lots of people who have a hip replacement keep the implant for the rest of their lives.”

Five reasons to consider joint replacement surgery now.

Joint replacement in our aging and active culture is increasingly common. Arthritic joints – which affect more than half of all 60-year-olds – no longer mean you must stop being active.

Pain relief: Hip and knee replacements are among the most satisfying surgical procedures. With proper therapy, most people can achieve a higher level of function – without pain – than before surgery.”
New technology: There have been many advancements since joint replacement procedures were first performed in the 1960s. Recent advances include robotic-assisted surgery which uses pre-operative imaging and robotic assistance to help preserve joint tissue and enhance the accuracy of implant placement.
Improvements in the use of pain medication: While it’s unrealistic to expect no pain after surgery, the use of spinal anesthetics, long-acting local anesthetics and regional pain blocks help pinpoint and control pain, keeping postoperative pain on the low end of the scale and helps avoid the use of narcotics, which have more side effects.”
Shorter hospital stays: Typically, joint replacement patients are out of bed and walking the day of surgery. Same day joint surgeries go home the day of surgery while most patients go home the day after surgery.
Durability: Replacement joints today allow for improved motion, and they are lighter and stronger. Hip replacements last on average about 15 years, and approximately 85% of knee implants will last 20 years.