If knee pain is constant and you’ve tried other treatments, surgery may be an option, says NYU Langone orthopedic surgeon Dr. Anna Cohen-Rosenblum.
November 12, 2025-
Total knee replacement surgery has come a long way, offering a safe and effective way to help relieve chronic pain, correct poor knee alignment, and restore everyday mobility. If you’re someone with severe arthritis, surgery can mean walking comfortably again, sleeping without pain, and returning to activities you enjoy.
Osteoarthritis—the gradual wear-and-tear of cartilage that cushions the knee joint—is the most common reason people eventually consider knee replacement. As the cartilage wears down, bones begin to rub together, causing pain, stiffness, and swelling that can make everyday movement difficult.
How do you know when it’s time to consider knee replacement surgery—or whether you’re a good candidate in the first place?
“It should be a shared decision between you and your doctor based on pain, function, and daily life limitations,” explains Anna Cohen-Rosenblum, MD, an orthopedic surgeon at NYU Langone Health who specializes in hip and knee joint replacements. “You can always choose surgery later, but you can’t undo it, so the timing must feel right.”
Here are five signs that a replacement might be the right step toward your knee’s recovery.
Sign No. 1: You Can No Longer Do Things You Enjoy
How your knee looks on imaging is less important than how it works in your daily life. “We treat the person, not their X-ray or MRI,” says Dr. Cohen-Rosenblum.
If knee pain interferes with work or caregiving or prevents you from performing activities you enjoy, a knee replacement procedure can return you to those activities—and help you regain independence.
“Having a knee replacement is about reclaiming life—walking with family, traveling, staying active—without constantly negotiating with the knee,” Dr. Cohen-Rosenblum says.
