Knee replacement typically yields great results and helps patients regain confidence in their knee and independence in their life, but both doctors and patients usually want to avoid the procedure if possible. It’s not always possible to avoid a replacement procedure, but there are some alternative treatments you can pursue earlier in your journey that may help you find relief without surgery. Below, we take a closer look at four alternatives to knee replacement surgery that may be an option for your knees.
Treating Knee Discomfort Without Surgery
Like a number of treatments for other health conditions, the earlier you pursue some of these conservative care options, the higher the likelihood they will be successful in providing relief. If you wait until symptoms are extreme or joint deterioration is significant, these techniques will be less likely to help you avoid surgery. Here are four ways we work with patients to provide relief for their knee symptoms without surgery.
- Regular Exercise – A number of people shy away from activity if knee pain is making movement uncomfortable, but movement is what you need to strengthen supportive muscles and stabilize the joint. Your knee will be better able to handle the stress you throw at it if you regularly challenge it with activity and motion. Pursue some low impact exercises like swimming, cycling or moving on an elliptical. High-impact activities like running or box jumps can be hard on the knees, so find ways to do some exercise each day that isn’t as hard on your joints.
- Weight Loss – Another treatment for symptoms like knee pain and stiffness is gradual weight loss. Your knees have to help handle and disperse the stress of your body when you’re standing and moving, and the more you weigh, the more pressure they will have to handle. Losing just a few pounds can take an immense amount of pressure off your knees. Pair your regular exercise with dietary improvements and work to lose a little weight, and you may notice that your knees are starting to feel better.
- Physical Therapy – Physical therapy helps to strengthen your knee and the surrounding soft tissues with targeted exercise and movement. A physical therapist can design a therapy routine that targets specific muscle groups that support your knee. They can also look for muscular imbalances in other areas of your body that could be causing your knee to handle more pressure with every step. For example, if an issue with your hips is causing your knees to handle additional stress when walking or running, your physical therapist may work to strengthen the hip area so that it can better handle stress, effectively taking pressure off the knee. Physical therapy is one of the best ways to alleviate knee symptoms and avoid a replacement procedure.
- Corticosteroid Injections – Corticosteroid injections help the knee by mimicking the effects of a substance called cortisol that is produced by the adrenal glands and makes joint movement easier. These injections can also help to calm inflammation in the area, which can allow for less restricted movement. It’s a wonderful short-term solution, but eventually the effects of the injection fade, so it’s important that you use these wisely. Pursue other treatments like physical therapy or exercise when your knee feels better because of the injection so that the area is stronger when the effects wear off. These injections become less effective the more times they are administered, so don’t view them as a stand-alone, long-term solution to your knee issues.
To learn more about these conservative treatments, or to talk to a specialist about your knee issues, reach out to Dr. Botero’s office today.
