Regional Medical Center of San Jose

"Everyone Involved Took Great Care in Everything They Did."

When Is Joint Replacement Surgery Necessary?

As the body ages, the effects of osteoarthritis can set in, and the joints may become weak. Pain, stiffness, and inflammation may be a disruptive part of daily life, and joint replacement might be required when symptoms have progressed enough. Because the damage to joints is degenerative and irreversible, joint replacement surgery is fairly common in patients who are suffering from joint pain in the hips, knees, or shoulders. Today’s methods of joint replacement have made patient recovery fairly easy after surgery, but you still may hold off on surgery until you meet the following criteria:

• Daily activities are disrupted by pain: When you cannot enjoy the activities that you love, the more intensive approach of surgery may be the best way to get you back to your routine. The risks of surgery will be outweighed by the benefits if you are unable to sustain your regular lifestyle because of joint injuries or degenerative issues.
• Conservative therapies have been insufficient: Your doctor may recommend alternative therapies before resorting to surgery for your condition, as these can be successful. These treatments may include pain medication, cortisone injections, and physical therapy. When they are not effective in offering relief, joint replacement may come up in discussion among you and your doctor.
• Other health issues are not a factor: Sometimes, surgery may be avoided due to other health conditions that are not necessarily associated with your joint pain. Conditions of this nature could include infection or immune deficiencies that could make surgery more of a risk. If these conditions are not an issue, there should be few potential complications with your surgery.

Explore more details about joint replacement procedures and see how your recovery can begin with the orthopedic physicians at Regional Medical Center of San Jose. Contact us for a closer look at our joint replacement services on our website or at (888) 762-8881. 

For More About Staying Healthy, Visit These Sites

Maintaining good health is easier with the dedicated and diverse care available from Regional Medical Center of San Jose. With a commitment to the latest technology and care techniques for a wide range of medical services, we can help you stay healthy through all stages of your life. Learn more about us on our website or by calling our Consult-A-Nurse healthcare referral line at (888) 762-8881.

• The USDA reviews the components of proper nutrition and portion control.
• Visit daVinciSurgery.com to see if robotically-assisted surgery can benefit you.
• Understand why heart disease is such a prevalent public health problem by reading these statistics from the CDC.
• This article from AHAJournals.org explores the link between obesity and cardiovascular disease.
• The NHLBI explains the uses for stress testing to assess a patient’s risk for serious heart conditions.
• Read this MedlinePlus article for a look at how blood type affects heart disease risk.
• This edition of Stroke Connection can help you lower your risk for stroke with lifestyle changes.
• The National Stroke Association offers a recovery guide to help you cope after a stroke.
• WomensHealth.gov has some facts and tips for healthy breastfeeding.
• Learn how to get in shape after pregnancy with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. 

Why You Should Take Your Blood Pressure Seriously

High blood pressure is a common health condition that is known to pose an increased risk for heart disease and stroke. However, these diseases are not the only reason you should watch your blood pressure and make changes in your life to maintain it. As this video explains, high blood pressure has been linked to the development of Alzheimer’s, which is a devastating degenerative disease that affects cognitive function in older adults.

For help getting your blood pressure in check and a complete look at your heart and circulatory health, visit Regional Medical Center of San Jose. Explore our services on our website or call our Consult-A-Nurse healthcare referral line at (888) 762-8881. 

The Benefits of Robotically-Assisted Laparoscopic Surgery

Surgical technologies have improved significantly in recent decades, and today, many surgical procedures are able to produce better results with a lower risk because of one of the most important advancements in surgical technology approved by the FDA in the year 2000: daVinci robotically-assisted surgery. The daVinci system features a control panel operated by the surgeon that controls a set of specialized tools used to perform minimally-invasive laparoscopic surgery. This technology has many advantages over traditional surgical methods, which are discussed in further detail below.

Better surgeon control: The arms of the daVinci system are capable of movements beyond the range of motion of the human hand, and they can perform with enough delicacy to peel the skin off of a grape. The surgeon operating the system has precise control over these tools so that there is a minimal chance for damage to tissue surrounding the surgical site.

Improved patient recovery: Laparoscopic surgery is performed through small incisions that allow access for surgical instruments to reach the site where repair to the tissue is necessary. This means that there is minimal impact on the body from surgery and that scarring will be barely visible. Patients are encouraged to get up and walk around right after surgery, and regular activities can generally be resumed within a few days.

Shorter hospital stay: Patients are typically able to leave the hospital the day of their procedure, which should last about one to two hours. This allows for a more comfortable recovery at home and a lower cost for surgery because patients are not billed for an overnight hospital stay.

Explore the uses for robotically-assisted surgery and discover if it is right for your procedure with Regional Medical Center of San Jose. Contact us on our website or call (888) 762-8881 to learn more about our surgical departments and services.