Most of us expect a few aches and pains as we get older.
We tell ourselves we’ll rest next week. We avoid the walk that hurts, stop playing sport, or quietly accept that climbing stairs, keeping up with the grandchildren or simply getting through the day has become harder.
But according to Orthopaedic Surgeon Dr Nick Jorgensen, living with persistent pain shouldn’t simply become the new normal.
“People don’t usually rush to see a specialist,” Dr Jorgensen says.
“Pain is a challenging part of life, and many people hope it will settle on its own.”
Yet while people often learn to live around their pain, they can also begin giving up the things that bring them joy.
Pain affects more than your joints
Lower limb pain doesn’t just make walking uncomfortable.
It can change routines, limit independence and affect mental wellbeing.
“People often start avoiding the activities they enjoy because they’re trying to avoid the pain,” Dr Jorgensen says.
“That can become isolating, frustrating and relentless.”
Knowing when to seek help
One of the biggest misconceptions Dr Jorgensen encounters is that surgery should always be viewed as a last resort.
While many people improve through education, rehabilitation and conservative treatment, there are also patients whose quality of life can be transformed by timely surgery.
“I don’t see surgery as a last resort,” he says.
“Some conditions absolutely require surgery, while many others don’t.”
The key, he says, is understanding each person’s goals, symptoms and lifestyle before deciding on the most appropriate treatment.
“If you’ve reached the point where you’re constantly pushing through pain, it may be time to have that conversation.”
Recovery has changed
Orthopaedic surgery has evolved significantly in recent years.
Advances in anaesthesia, minimally invasive surgical techniques and enhanced recovery programs mean many joint replacement patients are spending less time in hospital and returning to everyday life sooner than ever before.
“There is a real focus on minimising the impact surgery has on a person’s life,” Dr Jorgensen says.
More than an operation
One patient who has stayed with Dr Jorgensen suffered devastating injuries in a serious motor vehicle accident.
Across multiple surgeries – including complex limb reconstruction and a total hip replacement – the goal wasn’t simply repairing broken bones.
It was helping him return to the life he’d built before the accident.
For Dr Jorgensen, that’s what makes his work worthwhile.
“The best part is seeing patients walk back into my rooms looking completely different to the first time I met them,” he says.
“They’re moving more comfortably. There’s less tension in their face. You can hear the enjoyment in their voice.”
“It’s incredibly rewarding.”
Restoring more than movement
For anyone living with ongoing hip, knee, foot or ankle pain, Dr Jorgensen’s advice is simple.
Don’t assume you have to live with it.
“Whether the answer is surgery or another form of treatment, there are people who can help,” he says.
“The most important thing is finding the right treatment, at the right time, for the right person.“
