Have constant knee problems affected your mobility? Knee replacement in Costa Rica can get you back on your feet for less. When you go for your surgery to this Central American country, you can also holiday and recuperate in good surroundings.

When knees wear down or suffer damage from injury, it can become difficult to walk; even sitting and standing become painful. When you have pain in the knees and restricted movement, you will likely be on painkillers and exercise as a first step to combat the problem. If the damage gets worse and there are no further options left, then knee replacement may be an option to regain movement and improve the quality of your life.

Costa Rica sees thousands of medical tourists who come to its shores for the care and quality and pricing of medical treatments.

You can also enjoy a holiday in this beautiful country that is famous for its biodiversity, moderate climate, high standard of education and the fact that it is high on the World Happiness Index. If you can travel, there are many places you can go to since it is also a world-renowned eco-tourism destination. If you are not in a position to travel then you can choose to go to a recovery retreat after your surgery, where you will be well attended to by well-trained staff.

You can choose to have your surgery in San Jose, the capital, Santa Ana, Tibas, Liberia or Escazu. These are serviced by two international airports and from the U.S. and Canada the flights are not very long. If you are a resident of either of these countries (and many others) you may not need a visa as long as you have a return ticket or an onward journey ticket.

All these reasons will go a long way in making Costa Rica a great choice for your knee replacement surgery.

The time taken for the procedure will also depend on whether you are having a partial or total knee replacement and can take between 45 minutes to three hours.

As a major surgery, knee replacements are usually carried out under general anesthetic and you will stay for two to three nights in hospital. After the damaged parts are removed and replaced with artificial joints, the incisions will be closed with staples or sutures.

You will be on intravenous fluids and medicines during and post-surgery. While you can expect pain, this will be mitigated with pain killers. You will also be starting some movement while in bed. After returning home, you can expect a downtime of four to six weeks. You will be advised to follow a strict regimen of physiotherapy so that you can quickly regain strength and mobility. You should be completely recovered within six months. 

Sources:

Which is the greenest, happiest country in the world? World Economic Forum. Website accessed: 18 February 2020. https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/07/greenest-happiest-country-in-the-world/

International Association of Orthopedists. Website accessed: 18 February 2020. http://iaorthopedics.com/ 

Joint Commission International. Website accessed: 18 February 2020. https://www.jointcommissioninternational.org/ 

Knee Replacement. Mayo Clinic. 29 December 2017. https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/knee-replacement/about/pac-20385276