 Many of you would have undergone joint replacement surgeries. Joint replacement surgeries are one of the most commonly performed surgeries with the most satisfactory results. Most joint replacements should last for 15 to 20 years depending on your age, weight and activity level. However, you need to know how to take care of your replaced joints and to identify the problems quickly and seek medical help. You may resume activities like walking, swimming and cycling about 3 months after the surgery. However, stressful activities such as impact sports, running, jogging, lifting heavy weights should be avoided. It is important to continue your quadriceps and hamstring strengthening exercises as taught by your doctor or by your physiotherapist during all times. It is also very important that you not become overweight since excess weight increases the stresses on the replaced joint and can cause early failure. To guard against infection in your replaced joint and it is important to diagnose it early for the rest of your life. If you develop an infection anywhere in your body, for example urinary tract infection, infected cuts, boils and dental accesses, these infections travel via your bloodstream to your replaced joint. The chance of this happening is more if you are diabetic and if your blood sugars are not under control. It is also very important to notify your dentist or treating physician that you have a joint replacement. If you are going to have a dental procedure, cystoscopy, bronchoscopy or colonoscopy, it is mandatory that you are covered with prophylactic antibiotics before and after the procedure. Take yourself for osteoporosis regularly. You may be osteoporotic in spite of being on oral calcium supplements. Take an appointment for bone mineral densitometry once a year and report to your doctor. There are lot more medications to improve your bone quality. Osteoporotic bone may cause periprostic fractures which may result in complex revision procedures. Annual visits to have your replaced joints examined and ex-rayed are essential for monitoring the results of your surgery and giving you periodic advice for the care of your replaced joints. Visit your doctor if there is pain, swelling or redness of the operated joint or if there is any fluid draining from the operated joint. If you have temperature more than 101 degrees, if you have calf pain and swelling, if you feel a sense of pop or a giving way sensation with inability to bear weight on the limb, if you have a fall with inability to get up and walk, if you have numbness, cold or pale toes, take care of your joints. Life is movement, movement is life.