Men’s Health Month is celebrated in June to encourage men to be more proactive about taking care of their health. The habit of ignoring pain and continuing with work or activity, which is sometimes considered the ‘manly’ way, can do a lot of harm to the body. Here are some of the dangers of waiting to go to the doctor from a hip & knee pain standpoint.
The hip and knee joints are the biggest weight bearing joints in the body. Supporting the entire weight of the body increases the risk of painful degenerative joint conditions such as osteoarthritis in these joints. Symptoms manifest slowly, first during strenuous activity and later with routine activities of daily living. If left untreated, the condition can result in:
- Wearing away of the joint cartilage
- Bone-on-bone arthritis
- Joint deformities
- Damage to the ligaments and tendons
- Muscle weakness and atrophy
- Severe pain and disability
Seeking treatment at a late stage may increase risk of complications as well as limit the amount of mobility and strength that can be regained in the joint. Most importantly, when you joint is affecting your quality of life to the point that you are not doing the things that you enjoy doing, you should consider getting an evaluation.
Also, postponing treatment may limit your options. For example, for end-stage arthritis in the knee, total joint replacement may be your only option. But if the joint disease is identified early, perhaps you might only need a partial knee replacement and you will be able to maintain significant joint function.
In some cases, early non-surgical intervention with orthobiologic injections may improve pain and function in your hip or knee to the point that you may not need joint replacement until a later time.
The key to maximizing joint health is knowing the right time to seek treatment. If you feel frustrated with how your knee or hip pain interferes with your daily living, with your job, your exercise routine, or any hobbies you enjoy, book an appointment with us for an evaluation and treatment recommendation.
Dr. Frisch is an orthopedic surgeon focusing on minimally invasive hip and knee joint replacement as well as regenerative treatments for enhanced healing. He believes in creating a very personalized experience with the highest level of service. For all appointments & inquiries, please contact our offices located in Rochester and River District, MI.
