In my practice of over 20 odd years, I have encountered numerous patients who believe knee replacement is the only treatment option for knee arthritis. But this is not true. In fact, knee replacement is the last treatment option when other options fail to provide relief. 

There are many non-surgical alternatives available, which can prevent worsening of knee arthritis and can provide you with significant relief, especially when considered timely and properly. 

Non-surgical Treatment for Knee Arthritis

Knee pain is the real fuss. The crunching sound while climbing; the severe ache while walking, sitting, and sleeping; the swelling on and near the knee…all become daily affairs, making it difficult to live a normal and active life. 

Sometimes the situation becomes so bad that you need help to use the bathroom and to walk around. Even in the worst case, you may be confined to a wheelchair or bed. 

The biggest challenge with knee arthritis is that it doesn’t go away, but there are options to lessen the pain and stay active without undergoing surgery:

Cut Down Extra Pounds

Obesity is not just a cosmetic concern but a medical issue as well. It is a risk factor for many lifestyle disorders, like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and knee arthritis, to name a few. 

Extra weight puts stress on your knee and speeds up the deterioration process of the cartilage that cushions the knee joint and facilitates movement. As the cartilage destroys over time, the gap in the knee joint reduces, which causes friction between the thigh bone and shin bone during any movement. 

Start Strength and Mobility Training 

Exercise is a life mantra that helps you keep moving. Strengthening quadriceps and hamstring muscles can be very helpful and help you stay active. Discuss with a doctor about low-impact activities like walking on a treadmill, brisk walking, etc.

Pain Medications

There are many pain medications available in the market. However, not all are equally effective and safe. Typically, nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) are recommended by doctors. 

These pain medications may provide relief in the initial stage of knee arthritis. As the conditions worsen, these medications are not very effective. Plus, these medications can’t be taken for long due to their potential side effects. 

Injections

If you have been advised surgery, but you want to delay it for a few months due to a family event, injections may be helpful.  

Cortisone shots and hyaluronic acid injections have been proven effective in temporarily relieving pain. There are many other options available in the market. Some injections infused with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and concentrated bone stem cells are also in use. However, more studies are required to check their efficacy. 

Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA)

This is another non-surgical, temporary treatment for knee arthritis. It can be opted for when the above option doesn’t work. RFA works by destroying the nerves that carry pain stimulation from the knee to the brain. However, these nerves can grow back after six months to two years, causing pain again.

Takeaway!

Knee arthritis is a progressive disease where the cartilage in the knee deteriorates over time, leading to stiffness, pain, and reduced mobility. Though arthritis can’t be cured, its symptoms can be reduced, and the quality of life can be improved. 

Diagnosis of knee arthritis is not a warrant for knee replacement surgery. There are several non-surgical options you can try before surgery, which we have mentioned above. Besides, there is one minimally invasive surgical approach as well, called cartilage regeneration. This can be advised to young patients and athletes with limited arthritis and good bone alignment. 

In this procedure, a small sample of cartilage is taken from you, grown in a lab, and then replanted in the knee. So, only cartilage is replaced instead of the whole knee (which is done in total knee replacement surgery).

If you or someone you know is suffering from knee arthritis and has been advised knee replacement, you can take a second opinion from our experts for better treatment options.