When to Consider Joint Replacement Surgery

Joint replacement is a major decision, and most patients (rightly) want to delay it as long as reasonably possible. The challenge is that deferring too long can leave you with weaker muscles, more stiffness, and a harder recovery. These are the five signs surgeons look for when considering whether it’s time.

If three or more of the above apply, it’s worth a surgical consultation — not necessarily because you need surgery now, but because an honest evaluation can tell you where you are on the spectrum and what the non-surgical window still looks like.

“The goal of surgery is not to eliminate a normal-ageing joint — it’s to restore a life you can’t live without it.”

Modern total knee and hip replacements reliably last 15–20 years, with 90%+ of patients reporting significant improvement in pain and function. The two most common regrets from patients who have had surgery are: “I wish I hadn’t waited so long” and “I wish I had done my physio before surgery, not after.”