Age and injury take their toll on people’s joints. The pain that comes along with that limits activities and reduces a person’s quality of life. Joint replacement surgery is not routine, but it is common and technological advances are making it safer with shorter recovery times. Native Americans access hip and knee replacements at a rate lower than other ethnic groups. And the number of Native orthopedic surgeons falls far short of the percentage of Native Americans in the overall population. We’ll explore the benefits of joint replacements and the signs a person might look for when considering surgery.