Do I need surgery for knee arthritis?
For most people with knee arthritis the answer is not yet, and often not for a long time. Surgery sits at the end of a longer path, not the start of it. Knee replacement is considered when arthritis is advanced and non-surgical treatment no longer controls your symptoms or protects your quality of life. Here’s how that decision is actually made.
Surgery is rarely the first step
Non-surgical treatment is the recommended starting point for knee arthritis, and for many people it works for years. Exercise and strengthening, weight management, activity changes and simple pain relief are first-line, supported by Australian and international guidelines.¹,² Most people should have given these a genuine try before surgery is on the table. The full range is on hip and knee arthritis management.
The decision is about your symptoms, not your X-ray
The severity of arthritis on an X-ray doesn't decide whether you need surgery. Some people with marked changes on imaging cope well; others with less dramatic scans are badly limited. What counts is how the arthritis affects your life, so the decision is made from your symptoms and function, not the scan alone.² Dr Tsung reads your imaging alongside what you're actually experiencing.
Signs it may be time to consider surgery
Surgery is worth discussing when, despite a fair trial of non-surgical treatment:
- pain regularly disturbs your sleep or is there at rest
- walking, stairs or everyday activities are meaningfully limited
- you've pulled back from work, exercise or things you value
- pain relief and injections no longer give useful or lasting help
- your quality of life is being eroded and isn't improving.
No single one forces a decision. Together, and over time, they're the signal that surgery may offer more than carrying on as you are.
What surgery offers, and what it doesn't
For advanced arthritis, knee replacement is a reliable operation: most people get substantial, lasting relief from pain and a real improvement in mobility, and Australian registry data show that around 95% of knee replacements are still working at ten years.³ It is still major surgery, with recovery measured in months and real risks, and the new knee won't feel identical to a natural one. It's elective, done when you're ready rather than as an emergency. More on knee replacement, and the choice between total and partial knee replacement.
It's a shared decision
Whether and when to have surgery is your call, made with good information. Dr Tsung's job is to tell you honestly where your knee is, what non-surgical options remain, what surgery would and wouldn't do for you, and to help you pick timing that fits your life.
Common questions
Can I leave it too long?
For most people knee replacement can be done whenever symptoms justify it, so waiting to be sure is reasonable. Very advanced arthritis can make surgery more complex, so it’s worth being reviewed if the knee is steadily worsening. Dr Tsung will advise on timing.
Will I definitely need a replacement eventually?
Not necessarily. Many people manage knee arthritis for years, or indefinitely, without surgery. It depends on how the arthritis progresses and how well non-surgical treatment controls it.
Should I have surgery now to stop it getting worse?
Knee replacement is done to relieve symptoms that aren’t otherwise controlled, not to pre-empt future change. If your symptoms are manageable, there’s usually no advantage to operating sooner.
Does a knee replacement last?
Modern knee replacements are durable, with around 95% still working at ten years.³ For most people it’s a once-in-a-lifetime operation, though results vary. More on how long a knee replacement lasts.
Do I need a referral?
Yes. To see Dr Tsung you’ll need a referral from your GP or another specialist.
Speak to Dr Tsung
To talk through where your knee is and what your options are, you'll need a referral from your GP or another specialist. Call reception on (07) 5676 9930 to book your first appointment, or email hello@sgco.au. New patients can pre-register online before the visit; the form prepares your records and does not book an appointment. For costs, see fees and health funds.
References
- Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. Guideline for the management of knee and hip osteoarthritis. 2nd ed. RACGP; 2018.
- Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care. Osteoarthritis of the Knee Clinical Care Standard. 2024.
- Australian Orthopaedic Association National Joint Replacement Registry (AOANJRR). Hip, Knee & Shoulder Arthroplasty: 2025 Annual Report. Adelaide: AOA; 2025.