Zimmer Knee Solutions

Mid Florida Ortho

Why Do My Knees Hurt?

The knee is the largest joint in the body. A healthy knee moves easily, allowing you to walk, turn, and do many other activities without pain.

Every day, your knees must support your full body weight. Cartilage is the “shock absorber” of your knee joints, but over a lifetime it can start to wear away. This "wear and tear" arthritis (osteoarthritis) is the most common cause of knee pain.

Without your cartilage protecting your knees, your bones grind against each other, which causes you pain: Pain that you can feel climbing stairs, working in the garden, or just trying to sit down. It may even keep you up at night.

Syptoms of Osteoarthritis

Your first sign might be a bit of discomfort and stiffness in one or both of your knees. The aching pain can flare up when you are active, and gets better when you rest. Your knees may become stiff and swollen, making it difficult to bend or straighten them. You could feel weakness in your knee, like it’s locking or buckling. People also commonly report that cold weather or rainstorms can make their joint pain worse.

Ready for the Next Step?

If you or a loved one suffers from knee pain, you know firsthand how it can sideline you from your daily life, and keep you from the activities you enjoy. Surgery can be intimidating, but those who are living with arthritis experience continually worsening discomfort as the joint deteriorates and the cartilage is worn away.

When knee pain becomes so bad that it actually interferes with the things you need or want to do, the time may be right to talk to your doctor about knee replacement surgery.

When Should I Talk to My Doctor about Knee Replacement Surgery?

A knee replacement may be your best option when medication or physical therapy fail to relieve your pain. Or when you still experience pain walking with a cane or other walking aid.

Your primary care doctor may refer you to an orthopedic surgeon, who will help you determine if knee surgery is right for you, and which types of knee surgery would be most appropriate.

You may not be a candidate for knee replacement if you have an infection, or do not have enough healthy bone in your knee to support a knee implant. If you are suffering from advanced joint disease, a new knee may offer you the best chance for pain relief and a return to your normal activities.

Zimmer® Persona™ The Personalized Knee System

Personalized Implants

Getting a precise knee implant fit is an important key to your comfort and overall experience following knee replacement.

The Persona system, built on the world’s most successful knee replacement system, has knee replacement implant sizes in the smallest increments, giving your surgeon the most comprehensive selection to choose from—all in order to best fit you to provide a superior fit and feel.

Precision Surgery

“Intelligent” surgical instruments are engineered to help achieve repeatable accuracy and alignment in total knee replacement.

With Zimmer® Patient Specific Instruments, your doctor will send you for a highly precise MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) of your knee. Based off this 3-D image, your surgeon will create a detailed plan for your surgery, including instrumentation developed just for you in order to show exactly how your new knee should be positioned.

Proven Technologies

Zimmer® Trabecular Metal™ Technology is designed to act as a structural and functional scaffold to allow existing bone and tissue to grow right onto it—providing greater biologic fixation.

Zimmer has had a highly successful 13+ year history with Longevity® polyethylene. Vivacit-E Highly Crosslinked polyethylene was built off this clinically successful poly, and was designed for patients with more demanding lifestyles. In Vivacit-E Highly Crosslinked Polyethylene, Vitamin E is incorporated directly into the materials. Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that guards against wear and prevents breakdown of the important polyethylene bearing surface.