Medically reviewed by Charles A. DeCook, MD ·
YOUR JOINT OPTIONS · DECISION GUIDE
When should I consider knee or hip replacement?
A surgical evaluation is useful when symptoms continue to limit the life you want despite appropriate care. The decision brings together your symptoms, examination, imaging, medical risks, and preferences. A consultation is a chance to understand the choices, not a commitment to surgery.
Updated September 24, 2026 · Educational synthesis · People & medical review status
Bring the story behind the symptoms
Write down the activities you miss, how sleep and walking are affected, and the treatments you have already tried. Include what helped, what did not, and any adverse effects. That history makes the visit more useful than a pain number alone.
Ask what another treatment would change
If replacement is already indicated and chosen after ineffective nonoperative care, the ACR / AAHKS guideline conditionally recommends proceeding without delay for additional joint-directed nonsurgical treatments in its defined population. This does not remove the need to assess and address medical risks.
Read the supporting source ↗Compare expected benefit with the work of recovery
Ask about realistic functional goals, complications, help at home, rehabilitation, and time away from your usual responsibilities. A technique name or a short hospital stay does not predict your individual recovery.
Leave with a decision you understand
You may decide to proceed, continue nonsurgical care, seek another opinion, or obtain more information. Ask what would prompt a change in the plan and who to contact while you are deciding.
Questions to take to your visit
- What findings make replacement a reasonable option?
- Which personal risks should be addressed first?
- What support will I need during recovery?
Explore the treatment details
Compare practical expectations ↗Sources and limitations
These are selected references, not an exhaustive review. Guidelines address different populations and may disagree. Your clinician determines how evidence applies to you.
A CONVERSATION WITH A SPECIALIST
Meet the surgeons.
Explore the professional profiles of Charles A. DeCook, MD and the hip and knee surgeons at Total Joint Specialists.
Contact the practice directly about appointments, services, and coverage. A professional profile is not a personal treatment recommendation. Medical review attribution is shown separately on reviewed pages.