Knee
Orthopedic Knee Pain Specialist in South Bend, IN
Board-Certified Knee Pain Doctors In Northern Indiana
Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine Center provides experienced and trusted knee surgery care to those seeking a knee surgeon. Our orthopedic surgeons perform surgeries using techniques to help alleviate pain, promote quick healing, and get you moving again. Depending on the severity of the condition or damage, knee surgeons at our Orthopaedic Center in Elkhart, South Bend, and the greater Michiana may recommend complete or partial knee replacement surgery or knee arthroscopy.
When Should I Worry About Knee Pain?
Knee issues that may require immediate treatment include:
- Swelling around the kneecap
- Pain or stiffness when walking
- Difficulty when bending your knee
- Arthritis
- ACL tear
- Runner’s Knee (Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome)
- Kneecap disorders
- Meniscus (cartilage) injury
- Knee Pain and Injury Care
Depending on the severity, your knee pain may require orthopedic knee surgery. The knee specialists at OSMC have experience in multiple knee injury treatments. Indiana patients with knee pain, stiffness, and swelling may want to consult a knee surgeon at OSMC if medicine, exercise, and alternative medical techniques are ineffective.
What Should I Expect from Knee Surgery?
In a partial knee replacement, the surgeon will replace only the damaged portions of the knee while keeping the healthy portions intact. In total knee replacement surgery, the bone and cartilage in the knee are replaced. Your knee surgeon may also offer minimally invasive knee surgery, or arthroscopy, in which tiny devices are placed through small incisions to repair the damaged knee tissues. Patients receiving minimally invasive knee surgery at our Michiana region outpatient surgery center typically have less blood loss, less discomfort, and quicker recovery following surgery.
What is a Total Knee Replacement?
Total knee replacement is a highly effective surgical procedure for knee arthritis. Over time, minimally invasive surgical procedures for knee replacement have been developed to reduce tissue stress and enhance patient outcomes. This minimally invasive technique uses incisions much smaller than the 10 to 12-inch incisions used in traditional knee replacement. The advantages of this type of knee surgery are:
- Minimal surgical dissection
- Shorter recovery period
- Same-day discharge for eligible patients
- Reduced postoperative pain
- Care in an outpatient surgery setting
How Long is Knee Surgery Recovery?
Knee Surgery recovery time varies by the condition and the surgery used to treat it.
- Knee replacement: Most patients can have knee replacement surgery at an outpatient surgery center and return home the same day, depending on their health and individual circumstances. Returning to work can take days to months depending on the job type and physical demands. Most patients resume normal activities within 3 to 6 weeks, although recovery continues beyond that point.
- Knee arthroscopy: Knee arthroscopy is typically performed as an outpatient procedure, allowing most patients to return home the same day. Recovery varies depending on the procedure performed and may take a few days to several months. Some patients may need crutches, activity restrictions or pain medication during the early stages of recovery.
Physical therapy is also essential to knee rehabilitation after surgery. Exercises to help strengthen and increase flexibility in the joint are crucial to effective and efficient healing.
Schedule Orthopedic Knee Surgeon in the Michiana Region
An orthopedic specialist needs a complete evaluation to diagnose the cause of your knee pain. If necessary, the doctors at our Michiana orthopedic clinic will discuss your knee surgery options and create a treatment plan for your condition. Call (574) 319-9622 or for immediate treatment, visit one of our orthopedic walk-in clinics.
