By the time most people seriously consider knee replacement surgery in Faridabad, they have been putting it off for two or three years. They have tried the injections. They have done the physiotherapy. They have changed how they walk, which chairs they sit in, and which family functions they attend.
The decision is not really about the knee. It is about whether the remaining years of restricted living are worth more or less than an operation with a defined recovery and a well-documented outcome.
I am Dr. Sunil Choudhary, best knee replacement surgeon in Faridabad FRCS (Trauma & Orthopaedics), and I perform primary and revision knee replacement surgery at the Asian Institute of Medical Sciences, Faridabad. This page sets out honestly who benefits from this operation, who does not, and what to expect.
When knee replacement is the right decision — and when it is not
Knee replacement is indicated when three things are true together: the joint surface is worn out on X-ray, the pain significantly limits your daily life, and non-surgical treatment has stopped helping. All three. An X-ray showing severe arthritis in a knee that does not trouble you is not an indication to operate.
Signs that you are probably ready
- Pain at rest, or pain that wakes you at night
- Walking distance reduced to a few hundred metres
- Difficulty standing up from a chair or climbing a single flight of stairs
- Pain no longer controlled by analgesia you are willing to keep taking
- Injections giving shorter and shorter relief
- Visible deformity — the leg bowing outwards or inwards
Reasons I would advise you to wait
- You are under 55 with arthritis confined to one compartment — a partial replacement or a realignment osteotomy may serve you better and preserve your own joint
- You have not yet completed a proper strengthening programme
- Your pain is mainly from the hip or the spine and is being referred to the knee
- There is active infection anywhere in the body, or poorly controlled diabetes — both must be addressed first
- You are not in a position to commit to the rehabilitation; the operation is roughly half the result
What total knee replacement actually involves
The worn surfaces of the thigh bone and shin bone are removed — a few millimetres of bone, not the whole joint — and replaced with a metal alloy femoral component and a metal tibial tray, with a high-grade polyethylene insert between them acting as the new cartilage. The back of the kneecap is resurfaced where necessary. The ligaments that stabilise your knee are preserved or balanced depending on the implant design.
Surgery takes around 60 to 90 minutes under spinal anaesthesia with a nerve block, which gives better pain control and faster mobilisation than general anaesthesia for most patients. You will usually stand and take your first steps the same day or the next morning.
Partial or total? How we decide
The knee has three compartments. If arthritis is confined to one of them — usually the inner — and your cruciate ligaments are intact with a correctable deformity, a partial knee replacement replaces only the worn part. It involves less bone removal, a faster recovery and a more natural-feeling knee. Roughly one in four patients coming for knee replacement is a candidate.
Where arthritis affects two or three compartments, or ligaments are deficient, or deformity is fixed, total replacement is the correct operation.
Robotic and computer-navigated knee replacement in Faridabad
The result of a knee replacement depends heavily on how accurately the components are aligned and how well the soft tissues are balanced. Computer navigation and robotic assistance give real-time measurement of alignment and gap balance during surgery, improving the consistency with which a plan is executed.
I will be straightforward about the evidence: these systems reliably improve the precision of implant positioning. Whether that converts into better pain scores and longer implant survival at fifteen years is still being established, and the current data does not justify the claims some advertising makes. They are most valuable in complex deformity, in revision, and in patients with unusual anatomy. Robotic joint replacement.
Choosing the implant — and why it matters more than the brand name
Patients often ask which implant brand is best. The more useful questions are whether the design has long-term registry data behind it, whether it suits your anatomy and degree of deformity, and whether your surgeon uses it regularly. A well-implanted mid-range prosthesis outperforms a poorly-implanted premium one every time. I use implants with published long-term survivorship data, and I will show you the specific one planned for you before surgery.
Your recovery, week by week
Day 0 to Day 2
Standing and walking with a frame or sticks, usually within hours. Pain controlled with a nerve block and regular analgesia. Knee bending exercises begin immediately — early movement is what prevents stiffness.
Week 1 to Week 2
Home, walking indoors with support. Wound review and clip or suture removal around day 12 to 14. Most patients achieve 90 degrees of bend by the end of week two.
Week 3 to Week 6
Walking aids reduced and often discarded. Stairs become manageable. Many patients return to driving around week four to six once they can perform an emergency stop safely. Desk work is usually possible from week four.
Week 6 to Month 3
Walking distance builds steadily. Swelling settles gradually — some warmth and swelling for several months is normal and not a sign of a problem. Strength work intensifies.
Month 3 to Month 12
Continued improvement. Most patients feel the knee is “theirs” somewhere between six and twelve months. Walking, cycling, swimming and golf are encouraged. Running and contact sport are not.
Risks, complications and how we reduce them
You are entitled to hear this clearly. Knee replacement is a successful operation, but it is major surgery.
- Infection — uncommon but serious. Reduced by screening for and treating infection beforehand, optimising diabetes control, laminar-flow theatre and prophylactic antibiotics
- Blood clots — reduced by early mobilisation, calf pumps and chemical prophylaxis
- Stiffness — the most common cause of dissatisfaction. Prevented by early, consistent physiotherapy. This one is substantially in your hands
- Persistent pain — a minority of patients remain dissatisfied even with a technically perfect replacement. Honest expectation-setting before surgery reduces this
- Implant loosening or wear — typically a long-term issue, addressed with revision knee replacement if it occurs
- Nerve or vessel injury — rare
Knee replacement cost in Faridabad — what affects the price
Cost varies considerably, and anyone quoting a single figure without assessing you is guessing. The factors that genuinely move the price:
- Whether the surgery is partial, total, bilateral or revision
- The implant selected and its bearing material
- Whether robotic or navigation assistance is used
- Room category and length of hospital stay
- Your medical complexity and anaesthetic requirements
- Physiotherapy and follow-up included in the package
Most major insurers and TPAs cover knee replacement, and cashless treatment is available at the Asian Institute of Medical Sciences. Bring your policy details to your consultation and our team will take you through pre-authorisation and give you a written estimate.
The Experience After Knee Replacement Surgery: A Road to Recovery
After the knee replacement procedure people are usually shocked to find that the grinding, chronic pain that they had been suffering from was completely gone. There might be some discomfort from the surgery, however, this is a distinct form of pain that is acute rather than chronic. The pain will diminish over time, and with the help of pain management.
The first session of physical therapy is immediately following the operation, usually within the first 24 hours. It is an essential aspect of recovery aiding patients to regain flexibility and strength of the new joint. Patients may be unable to complete physical therapy however, perseverance is essential to achieve a favorable success.
The time required to heal from knee replacement is different for every patient. Many patients see significant improvement in their mobility and pain four to six weeks after surgery. At the end of 3 months most patients are back returning to the majority of their routine exercises, whereas others could be waiting for up to six months. It is important to keep in mind that every person recovers in a different way and that patience is the key.
A skilled knee specialist in Faridabad guides patients through personalized rehabilitation plans to ensure safe healing, improved mobility, and long-term knee health.
How long does a knee replacement last?
National joint registry data consistently shows around 90 to 95 per cent of total knee replacements still functioning at ten years, and a large majority at fifteen to twenty years. Longevity is influenced by your age at surgery, your weight, your activity level and — above all — how accurately the implant was positioned.
Why patients choose Dr. Sunil Choudhary
Looking for the best knee replacement surgeon in Faridabad usually means looking for someone who will be straight with you. My training in knee and lower-limb reconstruction was completed over seven years in the UK NHS — at North Tees University Hospital and at the Royal Victoria Infirmary and Freeman Hospital, Newcastle — culminating in the FRCS (Trauma & Orthopaedics). Complex primary and revision knee replacement is my principal subspecialty interest.
You will be assessed, operated on and followed up by the same surgeon. And you will be told if you do not need the operation.
Frequently asked questions about knee replacement
How painful is knee replacement surgery?
The first two to three days are the most uncomfortable, and they are managed with a nerve block and regular analgesia. Most patients are surprised that the arthritis pain they came in with is gone immediately — what they feel afterwards is surgical pain, which steadily improves. By week six the majority need little or no pain relief.
Can both knees be replaced at the same time?
Yes, in carefully selected patients — generally those who are medically fit, not significantly overweight, and with good home support. It means one anaesthetic and one rehabilitation period. It also means greater physiological stress and a harder early recovery, because neither leg is strong. I assess this individually and will not do bilateral surgery simply because it is convenient.
Will I be able to sit cross-legged or squat afterwards?
This is the question I am asked most often in Faridabad, and the honest answer is: often partially, but not reliably. Most patients achieve 110 to 125 degrees of bend, which allows stairs, chairs and most daily activities comfortably. Full floor-sitting and deep squatting are not guaranteed and should not be promised to you. Tell me how important this is before surgery — it affects implant choice.
What is the best age for knee replacement?
There is no fixed age. The decision is driven by symptoms and X-ray findings, not by birthdate. That said, under 55 I actively look for alternatives, because a replacement done at 50 will very probably need revising later in life, and revision surgery is a bigger operation with a less predictable result. Realignment surgery if you are under 55.
How soon can I climb stairs normally?
Most patients manage stairs with a rail and one stick within two to three weeks, and climb normally by six to eight weeks. Going down is harder than going up and takes a little longer.
Do I need physiotherapy after knee replacement?
Yes, and it is not optional. The operation restores the joint surface; physiotherapy restores movement and strength. Patients who do their exercises consistently in the first six weeks get noticeably better results. This is the single biggest factor you personally control.
Which is the best knee replacement clinic in Faridabad for this surgery?
Surgery is performed at the Asian Institute of Medical Sciences, Sector 21A, with laminar-flow theatres and full post-operative physiotherapy. Outpatient assessment and follow-up are available both there and at the Bone & Joints Clinic in Sector 42.
Author & Medical Review
Medically reviewed by Dr. Sunil Choudhary, MBBS, MS, DNB, MRCS, FRCS (Tr & Orth).
