The practice of orthopedic surgery has come a long way in the last several decades, to the point that joint replacements are essentially a routine procedure for the surgeons. Regarding knee replacements, the process is straightforward and easily explained, and while the individual recovery process can vary in duration and experience, there appears to be a high rate of success. People who had been experiencing considerable pain before the surgery were, following rehabilitation, able to once again enjoy mobility with comfort.
Despite the hope that a knee replacement can bring to a potential patient, most people who could benefit from such a procedure don’t want to do it. It isn’t so much the surgery itself that is unappealing, but rather the recovery time. An effective rehabilitation program can require months of diligent and disciplined behavior – one that very gradually restores mobility to the patient. A person is effectively taken out of action for a time, unable to perform certain types of work or travel or do any number of things that might disrupt the healing process. For this reason, people will often wait until the pain is so unbearable that they are already out of action, leaving them essentially with no other option.
Often, following the recovery, the patient is amazed to learn what life without that constant pain is like. However, it happens sometimes that the removal of the pain associated with the knee allows pain from some other part of the body to be revealed. And sometimes, in the case of hip pain, this can be a problem that was compounded by the knee issue. As it turns out, in a desire to put off dealing with a problematic knee, we might change the way that we walk or move to try to relieve the stress on the knee. To avoid pain, we change the way that our joints have been accustomed to moving for all our lives, subtly placing stress loads on places that weren’t used to that sort of thing. Depending on how long we have asked our hip to take on this different wear pattern, we can do considerable damage to a previously undamaged joint. So, for an unfortunate (and typically stubborn) few, delaying the knee replacement can result in the need for a hip replacement.
Most people don’t want to live in pain, no matter what the source. And it should be clearly stated that there are many different types of pain, with some having no earthly solution. Yet there are many instances where the pain can be either reduced or removed if the person is willing to take some actions to improve the situation. Unfortunately, recovery, much like knee replacement rehabilitation, will require a process that might take time, effort, and involve some level of pain itself. It may require humbling yourself, admitting a problem, or allowing someone else to help you work through something. And much like what can happen with a knee problem, there’s a risk that putting off dealing with one type of pain can allow other problem areas in your life to develop and fester, to the point where a secondary problem can become almost as unbearable as the primary issue.
Pain is an indicator that something is wrong, and while we may think that we are noble or strong by learning to live with the pain, a far better approach is to see if the underlying cause can be addressed before further damage is done. What was once a mole hill can turn into a mountain, and one necessary procedure can become two or three or more – if we put off dealing with the problem. So swallow your pride and deal with the issue today, so that you can avoid further damage and enjoy life without the pain.
Peace and blessings – Pastor Aaron