Joint Preservation vs. Replacement: When to Consider Each Option

February 25, 2025

When you’re experiencing pain or problems with your joints, it can affect many different areas of your life. From getting around with ease to living with pain, it can often be something that consumes your life. This is what often leads patients to consider the right course of treatment. However, in order to find the right solution, it’s important to understand the options available and the implications of each. One of the options you might be contemplating is joint replacement in Irving TX. But it’s also important to understand if that’s the right option for your circumstances.

In this blog post, we’re going to explore the pros and cons of treating joint degeneration with physical therapy, regenerative medicine, and surgery. Of course, there are also many factors that can determine the effectiveness and suitability of each, so we will also consider these in turn.

Joint Preservation vs Replacement: What’s the Difference?

It’s likely that you’re going to find the best course of treatment for your joint pain or problems will fall into two main categories – joint preservation or joint replacement. While it might be the case that you are seeking knee surgery in Southlake TX, joint preservation could be exactly what you need instead.

Joint preservation is the term used for treatment methods that look to repair, manage, and maintain a joint to prevent the need to undergo surgery. This can include both non-invasive treatments as well as minor surgeries that look to repair the joint, rather than replace it.

We’re now going to consider three main options for your treatment here.

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy, also referred to as physiotherapy, is a treatment type that uses specific exercises and movements to treat muscle movement and strength. It can be considered a preliminary course of action for those struggling with joint pain. To determine if it’s right for you, it’s important to consider the pros and cons:

Pros:

It can help and improve movement in the joints related to injury or chronic illness
It also allows for pain relief and treat the issue at the source
It’s a holistic treatment choice that takes into consideration your overall health and lifestyle

Cons:

To begin with, the required exercises may cause pain and discomfort but ease over time
It requires commitment and consistency in order to see results
It isn’t suitable for every condition, and more serious ailments need other options

Regenerative Medicine

Regenerative medicine is a treatment form that looks to heal and repair the body, particularly the tissues and organs. It is seen to be a solid and suitable choice for chronic conditions. Here, injection therapies that utilize stem cells or platelet-rich plasma (PRP) are used to achieve results. However, there are also pros and cons of working with this treatment choice:

Pros:

It’s a less invasive treatment than surgery and doesn’t cause scarring
It also offers a faster recovery time than opting for surgery
It can alleviate pain from chronic pain and inflammation

Cons:

It is possible that the injected cells could be rejected
There may also be side effects to this treatment, so it’s best to consult your doctor
It can also be an expensive treatment choice, particularly if committing to it regularly

Replacement Surgery

Finally, we have the surgical options. If you are looking at knee surgery in Southlake TX, you may think that you need to have a full replacement. But you could also consider repair too. However, if you’d like to know more about the benefits and drawbacks of joint replacement surgery, they’re outlined below:

Pros:

It can reduce or remove joint pain altogether
It can also improve mobility and, in turn, your quality of life
It also means that you may be less dependent on medication and treatment

Cons:

There will be a recovery process that could be painful and require rehabilitation
There are risks that go along with surgery, such as infection or nerve damage
The lifespan of artificial joints can mean they wear out and need to be replaced again

The Key Factors That Can Influence the Decision

Although considering the pros and cons of each treatment option is important, so are the factors that will influence the decision. Before you get set on a certain course of action, it’s important to bear in mind the below three influential factors:

Patient Age

Of course, depending on the severity of the degeneration in question, age can determine the best course of treatment. While there are always risks with surgery, it can often be a viable option for older patients – particularly those who have tried other treatments and are still looking for a remedy.

Condition and Use of the Joint

Again, it’s important to consider the condition of the joint in question. If there has been severe joint degeneration, surgery might be the best course of action. However, prevention is key for those with mild to moderate degeneration.

Overall Lifestyle Considerations

Finally, it’s also important to consider your lifestyle when making a decision. Ultimately, the right choice is very subjective. It’s important to weigh up the pros and cons of each option to determine which treatment option will be the right one for you and your lifestyle.

Final Thoughts: How to Determine Which Option is Best?

As you can see, there is a wide range of treatment options available to you if you’re looking for joint replacement in Irving TX. While opting for surgery might be a viable option for you, it’s important to consult a medical professional before making your decision. With both physical therapy and regenerative medicine both proving beneficial in joint preservation and care, these are also key options to explore. Reach out to us today to discover more about our treatment options and find out how we can help you manage pain and encourage recovery.