Maybe it's just I'm paying more attention as I get older, but knee and hip replacements are pretty darn common nowadays. Shoulders are getting there as well.
And while I am sure there are horror stories, all I know who have had them done here in ND have been successful.
However, they aren't doing thumb joint replacements that I know of. I went to the Bone and Joint clinic almost two years ago now to have them take a look at my thumb. Yep, it's bone on bone and can be quite painful with the right triggering move. Anyway, the solution offered was to go in and remove the offending bone segment, and then tie everything together using fishing line. I said, umm...yeah, not happening. Doc just looked at me and said "then you aren't there yet". I take that to mean it's just going to get worse until such time as I am "there".