Knee Replacement Surgery is commonly indicated for severe osteoarthritis of the knee. Osteoarthritis is a type of arthritis. It is the most common form of knee arthritis in which the joint cartilage gradually wears away, and often affects the elderly. Your doctor may advise total knee replacement if you have: Severe knee pain that limits your daily activities (such as walking, getting up from a chair or climbing stairs) Moderate-to-severe pain that occurs during rest or awakens you at night Failure to obtain pain relief from medications, injections, physical therapy or other conservative treatments