Joint replacement
By Amanda GardnerThanks to better rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treatments in the past 20 years, fewer middle-aged people need joint replacements today.
In fact, a California study of people with RA—all in their 40s or 50s—found that knee replacements have dropped by 19% and hip replacements by 40% since the 1980s. (Rates in people over 60, however, have stayed the same or gone up.)
When severe pain or joint damage limits your daily activities, a joint replacement may still be your best option. Here's what you can expect from joint replacement surgery.