Surgery

Most people who have arthritis may never need surgery. However, if your joints are very damaged and other treatment isn’t helping, surgery may be suggested. If this is the case, you will be referred to an orthopaedic surgeon.

Possible operations include:

• replacing a badly damaged joint with an artificial joint
• removing the inflamed lining of the joint cavity
• removing the painful coverings from tendons or repairing damaged tendons
• removing bone to relieve pain
• releasing trapped nerves
• fusing a joint to make it more stable

Once you have recovered from your operation, you will probably find it easier and less painful to move around.

Joint replacements

Joint replacements are the most common form of surgery for arthritis, with hip and knee replacements the most popular. Ankles, shoulders, elbows, wrists and fingers can also be replaced.

Every year in the UK around 60,000 people have a hip replaced and around 56,000 have their knee done. The success rate is high: about 95 per cent of people are left free of pain. Most people will gain about three-quarters of the range of movement of the normal joint.

Eight out of ten hip replacements last for 20 years and nine out of ten knee replacements last for for 10-15 years – often  longer if you treat them with respect. If they do eventually become troublesome they can often be replaced again.

Joint replacement operations sometimes fail and you may need another operation. Although these are increasingly successful, very occasionally the replacement joint has to be removed. This can lead to considerable disability.

NHS or private?

Waiting times for surgery on the NHS in many parts of England have come down to 18 weeks from the time of a GP's referral to the time you have the operation.

Some people choose to pay to have their operation done privately which can be very expensive.

Explore both options thoroughly before deciding which is better for you. Sometimes private medical insurance may cover the cost of an operation but check that your policy covers your arthritis – especially if you developed the condition before taking out the policy.

Be informed

If your doctors suggest surgery, discuss what is being offered, and why, so you can make an informed decision about whether to go ahead. As well as the benefits, there are always some risks with having surgery so discuss these with your consultant beforehand.

For more information about the different types of surgery and how to prepare for an operation, see our booklet Surgery and Arthritis or contact our helpline.