There are several reasons why your doctor may recommend knee replacement surgery. People who benefit from total knee replacement often have:

• Severe knee pain or stiffness that limits your everyday activities, including walking, climbing stairs, and getting in and out of chairs. You may find it hard to walk more than a few blocks without significant pain and you may need to use a cane or walker.

• Moderate or severe knee pain while resting, either day or night.

• Chronic knee inflammation and swelling that does not improve with rest or medications.

• Knee deformity — a bowing in or out of your knee.

• Failure to substantially improve with other treatments such as anti-inflammatory medications, cortisone injections, lubricating injections, physical therapy, or other surgeries.

There are no absolute age or weight restrictions for total knee replacement surgery.
Recommendations for surgery are based on a patient’s pain and disability, not age.

Most patients who undergo total knee replacement are age 50 to 80, but orthopaedic surgeons evaluate patients individually.

Total knee replacements have been performed successfully at all ages, from the young teenager with juvenile arthritis to the elderly patient with degenerative arthritis.